Category: Medical

Luanda – Angolan health authorities reported Saturday 157 new cases, 91 recoveries and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.

According to the daily bulletin, most cases were detected in Luanda, with 74.

The source also quoted 36 fresh cases as being reported in Cunene, 25 in Huambo, 13 in Cabinda, 5 in Huíla, 2 in Cuando Cubango, and Cuanza Sul and Uíge with one each.

The new cases involves people aged 1 day – 94 years of age, being 80 men and 87 women.

Among those recovered, according to the report, 36 reside in Huíla, 20 in Huambo, 18 in Luanda, 16 in Cuando Cubango and 1 in Lunda Sul.

Deaths were registered in the provinces of Luanda and Huambo, with 2 each.

So far, Angola has 38,528 positive cases, 887 deaths, 32,696 recoveries and 4,945 active patients.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angola reported, on Friday, 265 recovered patients, 280 new infections and two deaths, in the last 24 hours.

According to the National Director of Public Health, Helga Freitas, among those recovered, 246 are in Luanda, 17 in Huambo and two in Cunene.

Among the new cases, 221 are in Luanda, 19 in Huíla, 18 in Huambo, 6 in Bié, 5 in Namibe, 3 in Malanje, 3 in Bengo, 1 in Cunene and 1 in Cuando Cubango.

With ages ranging from 1 to 77 years, 174 are men and 106 women.

Of the deaths, 1 was registered in Namibe and 1 in Cunene.

The laboratories have processed 1,176 samples.

There are 68 people in quarantine centres and 2,404 are under epidemiological surveillance.

Angola has 38,371 positive cases, with 883 deaths, 32,605 recovered and 4,883 active. Of those active, 14 are in critical condition, 29 serious, 45 moderate, 34 with mild symptoms and 4,761 asymptomatic.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Ghanaians have been called to develop the culture of voluntary blood donation to guarantee timely access to safe blood and blood products and help save lives. The Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu made this call at an event to mark World Blood Donor Day in Accra under the theme: ‘Give blood and keep the world beating’.

The Minister, in a statement delivered on his behalf said a year after the World Health Organization targeted deadline of 2020 for all countries to obtain 100% of their blood supplies from only voluntary unpaid donors, Ghana is still struggling to achieve 50% of the target despite several efforts being made. He used the occasion to appreciate the good work of voluntary donors who receive no remuneration but are always ready and available to donate blood to help save other lives most of whom they never meet.

Mr Agyeman-Manu disclosed that the Ministry had been able to secure the needed legal backing for the Agency status of the National Blood Service which had subsequently resulted in the passing of the National Blood Service Bill by the Parliament of Ghana.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, Dr Justina Kordai Ansah recounted some of the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the collection and processing of blood for transfusion, deepening the gap between blood collection and the estimated national blood requirement. She said voluntary blood donation dropped from 33% of the total blood donation in 2019 to 17% by the end of 2020. To mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Blood Service activated its business continuity and emergency plans to maintain enough stocks of blood and blood products for emergency transfusions and also to minimize risk of community spread of the virus through blood donations.

Dr Justina Kordai Ansah further acknowledged the opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic had presented and recognized the need to leverage on technology to safely deliver their mandate. In this regard, the Service partnered Kwaaba Foundation and the Ghana Education Service to develop School Blood Donation Tracker app which is used to track blood donations in educational institutions.

The Country Representative for the World Health Organization, Dr Francis Kasolo highlighted some efforts the organization is making to improve access to quality blood supplies across the Africa Region. “We have partnered with the Coalition of Blood for Africa (CoBA), launched in November 2020, to drive this agenda, including engaging the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and the private sector”.

In the area of research, Dr Kasolo said the partnership between Africa and the BloodSafe Program funded by the United States of America National Institutes of Health supports research to enhance availability of safe blood in African countries. “Through this partnership, research projects in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi are underway in collaboration with universities in the United States” he added.

Worth mentioning is WHO’s partnership with Facebook, where a Regional Blood Donations feature has been set up to connect people with nearby blood banks. The tool which is now live in 12 countries has over 3.8 million Facebook users signed-up to be notified of blood donation opportunities.

Dr Kasolo urged the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with blood donor associations and nongovernmental organizations, to put in place the systems and infrastructure needed to increase the collection of blood from voluntary donors. This he said, is critical as adequate supplies of safe blood can only be assured through regular, voluntary, unpaid donations.

Five institutions were including religious bodies and the media were awarded for their outstanding roles in promoting, mobilizing, and publishing educational materials on voluntary blood donation campaigns in Ghana.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Luanda – The health authorities announced Wednesday the recovery of 319 patients, 128 new cases and 3 deaths, in the last 24 hours.

According to the daily bulletin, amongst those recovered, 282 reside in Luanda, 21 in Huíla, 8 in Huambo, 3 in Bengo, 2 in Benguela, 2 in Malanje and 1 in Bié.

In terms of new infections, the bulletin said, 91 were diagnosed in Luanda, 15 in Huambo, 6 in Cuanza Norte, 6 in Huila, 4 in Namibe, 2 in Bié, 2 in Cuando Cubango and 2 in Malanje.

Among the new cases, whose ages range from 1 to 81, 67 are men and 61 women.

The deaths involve two citizens resident in Huambo and one in Luanda.

In the last 24 hours, laboratories processed 1,317 samples by RT-PCR.

There are 110 patients in the hospitalisation centres, 74 are in institutional quarantine, while 2,323 contacts of positive cases are under medical follow-up.

The country records 38,002 positive cases, with 875 deaths, 32,322 recovered patients and 4,802 active. Of the active ones, 16 are in critical condition, 24 severe, 40 moderate, 30 mild and 4,692 asymptomatic.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The health authorities on Tuesday announced the recovery of 221 patients, 126 new cases and 7 deaths, in the last 24 hours.

According to the daily bulletin, of those recovered, 201 reside in Luanda, 18 in Huambo, 1 in Lunda Sul and 1 in Cunene.

As for the new cases, the bulletin said, 84 were diagnosed in Luanda, 16 in Huambo, 15 in Huila, 3 in Benguela, 3 in Zaire, 2 in Malanje, 1 in Cabinda, 1 in Cuando Cubango and 1 in Uige.

Among the new cases, whose ages range from 7 days to 72 years, 66 are men and 60 women.

The deaths involve two citizens resident in Huíla, one in Luanda, one in Huambo, one in Cuando Cubango, one in Cunene and one in Malanje.

In the last 24 hours, laboratories processed 2,989 samples by RT-PCR.

There are 108 patients in the hospitalisation centres, 85 are in institutional quarantine, while 2,323 contacts of positive cases are under medical follow-up.

The country records 37,874 positive cases, with 875 deaths, 32,003 recovered patients and 4,996 active. Of the active ones, 15 are in critical condition, 25 severe, 38 moderate, 30 mild and 4,888 asymptomatic.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Addis Ababa – Ms. Heran Gerba, Director General (DG), Ethiopia Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) has received the 2021 World No Tobacco Day Award today for her efforts in tobacco control through her leadership role at FDA.

In a ceremony organized today, WHO Ethiopia handed over the award to Ms Heran, which includes a medal and certificate of recognition signed by the WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom.

Ms Heran is one of the six awardees selected for this year from the WHO Africa region.

Every year WHO acknowledges individuals and organizations for their significant contribution to improve tobacco control. Ms Heran Gerba is the fifth awardee from Ethiopia. Previous award winners have included the House of People’s Parliament in 2014 and 2019; Tigray Regional State in 2017, and Mr. Wondu Bekele, Executive Director of ‘Mathiwos-Wondu-Cancer-Society’ (MWCS) in 2020.

In her 17 years of service as Deputy DG and DG of EFDA, Ms Heran has demonstrated strong leadership and contributed significantly to key milestones in tobacco control. Notable among these is the successful adoption of 2019 Food and Medicine Proclamation #1112/19, adoption of increased tobacco taxation in 2020 as part of the Excise Tax Bill, and the Graphic Health Warnings with 70% cover of principal areas of local cigarette brands. Her support and commitment in building capacity of regions to domesticate national tobacco control regulation and develop context specific tobacco control regulation, enforce and create smoke free environment has been exceptional.

“Since 2014, Ethiopia has received five World No Tobacco Day awards which is symbolic of successive advances that the country has achieved in tobacco control.” Said Dr Bouriema Hama Sambo, representative to WHO Ethiopia . He added “Ms. Heran Gerba’s exceptional contribution to tobacco control by nurturing policy-based advocacy includes the 1112/19 FDA proclamation for tobacco control law & the exhaustive monitoring campaign to ensure that public places remain compliant to the Law.”

H.E Dr Lia Tadesse, Ethiopian Health Minister also congratulated Ms Heran Grba speaking on the award ceremony. “I am happy that today Ethiopia has received the 5th World No Tobacco Day Award through Mr Heran Gerba, Director General for EFDA. Dr Lia added her role was key in achieving the key milestones in tobacco control efforts.”

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Brazzaville – COVID-19 cases in Africa are surging by over 20% week-on-week as the continent’s third wave gains pace and nears the first wave peak of more than 120 000 weekly cases recorded in July 2020, new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows.

COVID-19 cases rose to over 116 500 in the week ending on 13 June, up from the previous week’s nearly 91 000 cases, following one month of progressively rising case numbers that pushed the continent over the 5 million case mark. In 22 African countries—nearly 40% of Africa’s 54 nations—cases rose by over 20% in the week ending on 13 June. During the same week, deaths rose by nearly 15% to over 2200 in 36 countries.

New cases recorded weekly in Africa have now exceeded half of the second wave peak of more than 224 000 weekly cases in early January 2021. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Uganda have reported their highest number of new weekly cases since the pandemic began.

“Africa is in the midst of a full blown third wave. The sobering trajectory of surging cases should rouse everyone into urgent action. We’ve seen in India and elsewhere just how quickly COVID-19 can rebound and overwhelm health systems. So public health measures must be scaled up fast to find, test, isolate and care for patients and to quickly trace their contacts,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Along with other factors, a lack of adherence to transmission prevention measures has fuelled the new surge that coincides with colder seasonal weather in southern Africa and as more contagious variants spread. The Delta variant has been reported in 14 African countries and the Alpha and Beta variants have been found in over 25 African countries.

Africa’s rollout is picking-up speed with over 5 million doses administered in the past five days, compared with around 3.5 million doses per week for the past three weeks. Almost 12 million people are now fully vaccinated, but this is still less than 1% of Africa’s population.

Twenty-three African countries have used less than half of the doses they have received so far, including four of the countries experiencing a resurgence. About 1.25 million AstraZeneca doses in 18 countries must be used by the end of August to avoid expiration. Seven African countries have already used 100% of the vaccines they received through COVAX and seven more have administered over 80%.

“The rise in cases and deaths is an urgent wake up call for those countries lagging behind to rapidly expand vaccination sites, to reach priority groups for vaccination and to respond to community concerns. A number of African countries have shown that they can move vaccines quickly, so while we welcome the recent international vaccine pledges, if we are to curb the third wave Africa needs doses here and now,” said Dr Moeti.

Nearly 85% of all vaccine doses globally have been administered in high- and upper-middle-income countries – an average of 68 doses per 100 people in high-income countries compared with nearly 2 doses per 100 people in Africa. The number of doses administered globally so far would have been enough to cover all health workers and older people, if they had been distributed equitably.

WHO support

WHO is supporting countries to review and implement resurgence plans down to the district level and is pre-positioning supplies to be ready to deploy to countries that need them. WHO is also expanding access to easy-to-use antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests in communities that would otherwise not have ready access to the standard polymerase chain reaction testing for COVID-19.

Through a WHO-led regional COVID-19 laboratory referral network, WHO is working with countries to ship samples for sequencing to better understand where and to what degree variants are circulating.

WHO is at the centre of Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, working to coordinate all efforts, giving policy and technical guidance and tailored support to African countries with a range of partners, including assisting countries speed up their rollouts.

With partners, WHO is engaging communities in African countries through their leaders and associations, and social media channels, to promote adherence to the preventive measures, to counter rumours and misinformation and to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Minister of Health, Uganda, and Hon Dr Rémy Lamah, Minister of Health, Guinea. Also on hand to answer questions were Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Thierno Balde, Team Leader, Operational Partnerships, WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

– “I am a regular blood donor. I usually donate blood at least three times a year. However, in 2020, I donated once – in February – due to the pandemic and lockdown. During the lockdown, I received several reminders from the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) Abuja, where I usually donate, but the fear of covid-19 prevented me from donating. However, I plan to resume donating again”, says Adebowale Adedigba, a voluntary non-remunerated blood donor.

Mr Adedigba who is one Nigeria’s few voluntary unpaid donors said his initial visit to a donating site in 2012 was accidental. He was educated on the shortage of blood in Nigeria and its impact on those needing it, since then, he decided to become a regular donor.

“Being young and at the prime of my youth, I know I am helping many people who are needing blood. I am O positive, and my blood can save many people. I also use the opportunity to know my health status as I get regular screening anytime I donate. I urge everyone who is healthy to participate, he said.

Transfusion of blood and blood products helps and save millions of lives every year. Despite the lifesaving properties of blood donation, only a few Nigerians are regular and voluntary blood donors. Blood is needed for surgical procedures, as well as to treat severe anaemia, inherited blood disorders, and other conditions.

The World Health Organization commemorates World Blood Donor Day to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products like plasma. This day is also an opportunity to thank and appreciate voluntary, unpaid blood donors for this life-saving gift.

The day celebrated on 14 June each year also provides an opportunity to call to action to governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place, systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

This year’s theme is “Give blood and keep the world-beating” is apt because fewer people – just like Mr Adedigba- have been donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, NBTS has 17 blood donation centres across six geo-political zones which leads to the collection of over 60 000 units of blood annually. However, in 2020, there was a decline in the rate of donation due to the covid-19 pandemic. The National Blood transfusion services carry out blood donation drives with support of implementing partners.

NBTS and WHO system for blood safety reporting indicated that a total of 158,378 voluntary non remunerated blood donation were screened between January 2018 and May 2021 from federal institutions reporting in the database.

In her message to commemorate 2020 World Blood Donor Day, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti encouraged more young people to donate blood to save lives and to inspire their peers and families to do so too.

She noted that though bloodstock decreased in the African Region as movement restrictions and fears of infection hindered people from accessing donation sites, some blood donors even during the pandemic made extraordinary efforts to continue to donate blood.

She said this was made possible due to the “awareness campaigns backed by the collaboration of donor associations, civil society organizations, and armed and security forces, have led to good levels of voluntary donor recruitment in Nigeria and seven other African countries (Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and Zambia).

In Nigeria, WHO has been providing support to NBTS in the drive for blood donation through blood drives awareness creation and the reporting of blood safety data in the country. The reporting currently covers all the tertiary institutions and it is scheduled to be scaled up to cover all secondary-level facilities including the private sector.

This year’s commemoration, NBTS with the support of WHO will be recognizing the 10 highest donors who have continuously donated the gift of life as a way to encourage Voluntary non-remunerated donation of Blood.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Luanda- The health authorities announced, Monday, the registration of 85 new infections, 5 deaths and the recovery of 77 patients, in the past 24 hours.

According to secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, who was speaking at the usual updating session, 52 were diagnosed in Luanda, 14 in Huambo, 10 in Huíla, 4 in Namibe, 2 in Bié, 2 in Malanje and 1 in Lunda Sul.

With ages ranging from 9 months to 69 years old, the group included 45 men and 40 women.

Franco Mufinda said that three deaths were registered in Luanda, one in Huambo and one in Huila.

He noted that 37 of those recovered reside in Luanda, 20 in Huambo, 14 in Huíla, 4 in Bié and 2 in Malanje.

The laboratories processed, in the period, 1,073 samples, with a daily positivity rate of 7.9 percent.

In the treatment centres, 156 patients are hospitalised, while 134 are in institutional quarantine.

Under medical surveillance are 2,354 contacts of positive cases.

The overall picture indicates 36,790 positive cases, with 836 deaths, 30,2359 recovered and 5,595 active. Of the active, 145 are critical, 37 severe, 91 moderate, 17 mild and 5,540 asymptomatic.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – At least 490 equipment for storing vaccines were delivered, this Saturday, to the Ministry of Health (MINSA), to reduce the need for expansion and rehabilitation of the refrigeration and storage systems health units.

The donation from the China Merchants Foundation includes 150 solar coolers and their respective solar panels, 40 electric ones and 300 isothermal boxes.

According to Health minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, this donation, valued at 1 million dollars, will make it possible to equip and strengthen 190 health units across the country.

Sílvia Lutucuta added that the cooling and refrigeration system is one of the important pillars for any vaccination programme, as it guarantees the supply of safe vaccines.

“This material will make it possible to preserve not only the vaccines against Covid-19, but also those of the children’s vaccination programme and guarantee health through immunization,” said the minister.

She also informed that the 150 coolers with solar panels and the capacity to store three thousand doses of vaccine each one, will allow covering areas of difficult access and without electricity from the public network.

Regarding Covid-19, the minister said that Angola is negotiating with the Chinese government to acquire more vaccines from Sinopharm.

The cabinet official took the opportunity to alert the population that transcripts of vaccines against Covid-19 are not authorized on the International vaccine Card, noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing and will define the methodology and type of vaccines cards to use.

On his turn, the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao, expressed the willingness of his government, Chinese companies and organizations to continue to support Angola’s efforts in the health, economic and commercial sectors and, in particular, in fighting Covid-19.

Source: Angola Press News Agency