Mr. Stephen Karingi, Director, Regional Trade and Integration, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), says African economy will lose 65 billion dollars if there is a full lockdown of the continent due to COVID-19. Karingi said this during the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual joint press briefing on Thursday. The director said that the African economy would contrast as much as three percent in 2020. According to him,...
The World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa, has confirmed seven new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN’s health agency confirmed the development on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Wednesday. “Seven Ebola cases have been reported in Beni, DRC since the resurgence of this outbreak in April. “WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health in the country to detect, isolate, test and treat suspected...
Residents of Fufore town and it’s surrounding areas have again pleaded with the state government to as matter of urgency save their lives by rehabilitating their dilapidated cottage hospital. Residents spoken to regrets that the health facility looks eyes sore. “We need government intervention, the hospital is neglected and is becoming a death trap. ” The place is an eyesore, let’s the concern authorities come to our help,” said Maria Yohanna a female resident. Also...
The Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane has called off their strike with effect from 8 am, Wednesday 6th May 2020. The decision to suspend the 12 days old strike was reached during a meeting between the State Governor and representatives of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, and the Southeast caucus of the body. The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi pleaded with the group to suspend the industrial action with...
The Senate on Tuesday at plenary passed for first reading, the National Health Emergency Bill, 2020. The Bill was sponsored by Sen. Chukwuka Utazi, (PDP-Enugu) and Chairman, Senate Commitee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases. Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP-Enugu) shortly after the bill was read, however, raised a point of order having cited order 14 Section I of the Senate rule. Ekweremadu in his remark said it was important for the details of the bill to be...
A pressure group called Enugu Urban Residents has appealed to resident doctors in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) to suspend their 11-day-old strike in the interest of human lives. The group’s president, Chief Samuel Okafor, made the appeal while addressing newsmen on the impact of the industrial action on users of the facility. Okafor said that the lingering strike was having its toll on their members who constituted about 90 per cent of health...
Members of the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have vowed not to accept the proposed cutting of salaries of its members and other healthcare workers by the Kogi Government. A statement by the Chairman of the NMA in the state, Dr Kabiru Zubair, in Lokoja on Sunday, said the attention of the NMA had been drawn to the proposed wage cut by the government. ”The NMA is not unaware of the...
The Emir of Rano, in Kano State, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila Auta Bawo is dead. The emir died on Saturday at a hospital in Kano at the age of 74. Turakin Rano and House of Representatives Member of Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure , Alhaji Kabir Alhassan Rururm confirmed the death. He said the late emir would be buried this evening in the emirate. The Emir was on Friday reported to be in critical condition and...
The controversial bill, “Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020” was sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representative, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and two of his colleagues, Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu on Tuesday. The bill had been tagged controversial by the Nigerian public. Today, the West African Pilot News highlights some arguments about the bill and the public reactions to the bill for you. The Bill passed the second reading in a day The...
Kano State Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed 80 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), as total infections in the area hit 219. The ministry via its verified Twitter handle @KNSMOH, said that five COVID-19 deaths had been recorded in the state. “Update as at 11:58 p.m. April 30, 2020; 80 new COVID-19 cases confirmed. “Total confirmed cases in Kano State are now 219,” it said. The ministry advised residents of the state to comply...
