Madagascar’s COVID-19 cure drugs sent to Nigeria

******NAFDAC, others to carry out analysis before testing

The Republic of Madagascar has offered its herbal drug – COVID Organics (COV) – to Nigeria and other African countries.

The drug is for prevention and cure of Coronavirus.

Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.

For ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 positive tally moved to 4,399 last night with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno 26 cases to top the chart. Kano recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi with 20 cases.

There is pressure on the Federal Government by different medical and scientific organizations to allow the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to subject the drug to further analysis.

Some others are pushing for clinical trial of Covid Organics before being used in the country.

The Federal Government was yet to take a position as of weekend because the AU has mandated its Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID Organics.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week insisted that the efficacy of the drug was unproven.

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has been notified of the offer from Madagascar and arrangements were being made to bring Nigeria’s allocation to Abuja.

The source said: “The consignments of the drug are being distributed to different countries in Africa based on zonal grouping. We have been told that Nigeria’s consignment is in Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.

“When the herbal drink is brought into the country, we will know the next step. But some medical and scientific organisations are pressurising that the drug be subjected to clinical trial.

“Some countries like Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have subscribed to the drugs. Also, while South Africa has offered to conduct a scientific analysis of the drug, Senegal said it will subject it to clinical trial.

“I can assure you that the Federal Government will take the best decision on the drug in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“Before any food or drug can be administered in this country, there are certain protocols that must be followed. The government will not circumvent these protocols. We want solution; we want the best for Nigerians.”

On April 28, the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha said the nation was ready to give Madagascar’s herbal drink a trial.He said: “I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.

“I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr. President allow us import a plane load for a trial.

“We are all navigating an unchartered cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assured that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.”

(The Nation)

About 150 Deaths Recorded In Azare Within 30 Days, Says Bauchi Governor

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammad, has said that about 150 people died in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area, in the last 30 days.

Mohammad said hypertension and other related diseases were responsible for some of the deaths.

Ibrahim Baba, a former member of the House of Representatives from Bauchi, had written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over a massive outbreak of Coronavirus in Azare.

In the letter dated May 8, 2020, Baba said Azare had recorded over 100 COVID-19 deaths in the last one week.

But speaking on Sunday, Governor Mohammad told journalist that about 150 had died so far in the last 30 days, according to a report received from the committee set up to investigate the strange death.

He said, “We have reviewed the rumour about Azare that it has become a morgue. It’s not true, we have gotten the statistics of the death in the last 30 days.

“About 150 died in Azare, an average of about eight death per day and most of them we have found the cause to arising from hypertension and other related diseases.

“It’s not true that people are falling and dying in Azare, even if that is the situation ,we are moving there as a government.”

(Sahara Reporters)

COVID-19: Kaduna govt begs patients who fled after testing positive to return

Kaduna State Government has appealed to persons who tested positive for COVID-19 to report at its isolation centre for treatment.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni made the appeal on Sunday in Kaduna.

Mohammed-Baloni said that the call was necessary because two persons who were on isolation pending the receipt of their tests, which were positive, had remained incommunicado.

She said; “These persons subsequently switched off their phones and have remained incommunicado. This reckless action of theirs is endangering themselves, their families and the larger community.

“Similar irresponsible conduct by some COVID-19 patients has been reported in other states. It is a pattern of behaviour that must be stopped because it is patently dangerous to public safety.”

According to her, details of the two persons involved have been communicated to the security agencies for tracking and surveillance

“Members of the public who may have relevant information on the whereabouts of these persons are urged to promptly contact the authorities.”

She warned that it was illegal and dangerous for a COVID-19 patient to switch off his phone and make himself inaccessible to health authorities after testing positive to the virus.

She reiterated that COVID-19 was not a death sentence, adding that persons who received treatment promptly had a higher chance of defeating the disease.

“Twelve persons have so far been discharged in Kaduna State after receiving treatment and our health professionals are working hard for the recovery of other patients,” she said.

The commissioner reminded the residents that asymptomatic persons and untreated COVID-19 patients had a high chance of infecting others.

She said to knowingly infect others was an irresponsible act to the people and the state. (OAK TV)

Woman dies in Lagos church during childbirth, prophetess arrested

A prophetess, Evelyn Owoleke , has been arrested in connection with the death of one Seun Olorunto during childbirth at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Bayo Ajao Street, in the Aboru area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Olorunto was to be delivered of her baby in the church but allegedly bled to death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana , said in a statement on Sunday that Olorunto was found in a pool of her own blood when detectives visited the church, adding that the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary and the baby taken to hospital.

Elkana stated , “ On May 4 , 2020 , around 7 .50pm, one Olaloye Jolayemi of Ologundudu Street, Aboru, reported at the Oke - Odo Police Station that on May 4 , 2020 , around 10am , one Seun Olorunto, 39 , died after she was delivered of a baby boy by one Prophetess Evelyn Owoleke at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Bayo Ajao Street, Aboru.

“ Homicide detectives visited the scene and found the woman lying in a pool of her own blood, suggesting that she might have bled to death due to complications. The corpse was removed from the church to the General Hospital, Yaba , for autopsy.

“ The infant was taken to hospital for medical examination and care. The traditional /spiritual midwife was arrested and taken to the SCIID, Yaba . An investigation is ongoing.”

(The Punch)

Nigeria Records 248 New COVID-19 Cases, 17 Deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has recorded 248 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

In a tweet on Sunday night, the NCDC said that the new cases had taken the total number of infections in the country to 4,399. The 248 new cases are reported from 17 states.

It said: "248 new cases of #COVID19; 81-Lagos. 35-Jigawa, 26-Borno, 26-Kano, 20-Bauchi, 13-FCT, 12-Edo, 10-Sokoto, 7-Zamfara, 4-Kwara, 4-Kebbi, 2-Gombe, 2-Taraba
2-Ogun, 2-Ekiti, 1-Osun, 1-Bayelsa.

” Of the 4399 cases have been confirmed, 779 cases have been discharged and 143 deaths have been recorded”.

Wike now a full-blown dictator, Peterside alleges

The immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has condemned in strong terms the demolition of two hotels in Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Wike over alleged violation of an Executive Order.

Peterside said Wike had so far developed into a full-blown dictator, insisting that the latest action of the governor was “wicked, insensitive, irresponsible and unlawful.”

He said Wike left no one in doubt about his lack of concrete pursuit of how to fight coronavirus with solid policies and programmes, accusing him of resorting to brute force, a show of strength and muscle-flexing with imaginary enemies.

He said: “Last week, Governor Wike made two broadcasts where Rivers people expected him to lay out well-determined plans of how to ensure mass testing following the inauguration of molecular laboratories in UPTH and RSUTH with achievable timelines, while also strengthening other areas.

“However, no such thing was heard from the governor but threats upon threats as to how he would dethrone traditional rulers, how he will sack local government chairmen, how he will summarily arrest violators of the executive order and punish them, how he will auction their vehicles, amongst other threats. Governor Wike is not a law unto himself and cannot be the law.

“For good measure, the governor rounded up by saying he would demolish buildings or hotels found wanting in implementing his orders without recourse to the due process of law and natural justice that confers the right of fair hearing on the accused.

Wike’s utterances do not suggest that he is fighting the coronavirus pandemic alone. His actions suggest that there is more than what he is telling Rivers people. He has become a dictator whose words must be obeyed or be damned”.

Peterside explained the fascist attitude of Wike was capable of leading to the breakdown of law and order, as persons, who bore the crude method of the governor and their families could resort to mass protest, capable of exposing the state further.

He said: “This crude method of governance and law enforcement is obsolete, counterproductive and will put Rivers State and her people in bad light before the right-thinking members of society.

“While we all support the governor to ensure that the state is free from coronavirus, his transformation into a dictator and a god that must be worshipped will be challenged by all well-meaning Rivers people and Nigerians at the appropriate time.

“Governor Wike must change from this destructive path and follow that of responsible leadership that has a human face and not one that will turn him to a demi-god that must be offered sacrifices to assuage his anger, vengeance and greed,” he summed up."