Health

Coronavirus - WhatsApp: World Health Organization (WHO) Health Alert brings COVID-19 facts to billions via WhatsApp

Published

4 weeks ago

March 23, 2020

WHO (www.WHO.int) is launching a messaging service with partners WhatsApp and Facebook to keep people safe from coronavirus.

This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to reach 2 billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into the hands of the people that need it.

From government leaders to health workers and family and friends, this messaging service will provide the latest news and information on coronavirus including details on symptoms and how people can protect themselves and others. It also provides the latest situation reports and numbers in real time to help government decision-makers protect the health of their populations.

The service can be accessed through a link (http://bit.ly/who-covid19-whatsapp) that opens a conversation on WhatsApp. Users can simply type “hi” to activate the conversation, prompting a menu of options that can help answer their questions about COVID-19.

The WHO Health Alert was developed in collaboration with Praekelt.Org, using Turn (www.Turn.io) machine learning technology.

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COVID-19: PRESIDENT BUHARI APPEALS TO NIGERIANS TO STAY AT HOME, ASSURES OF MORE INTERVENTIONS

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2020

Lawal Sunday Adesegun

President Muhammadu Buhari wholeheartedly thanks all Nigerians for their patience, resolve and strong determination to defeat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The President said:

“We realize that today, there will be sons and daughters unable to visit their parents, and elders that are isolated from young ones. And there will be those who live day-to-day, eating as they earn, who face real and present suffering.

“No elected government could ask more of the citizens of the country that elected them than today we ask of you. But we must ask you - once more - to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.

“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential - world over - to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.

“For those who suffer most egregiously, the Government has announced multiple measures to assist: 70,000 tonnes of grain is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need; distribution of small cash payments are also being made, and will continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas.

“We ask you to listen and follow public announcements via the mass media for instructions as to how to receive this government support - and learn of more public assistance in the coming days.

“All that the Government is asking you to endure is because nowhere in the world today is there any known way of defeating this pandemic. There is no vaccine. And that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual, or accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.

“But at this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic. 210 countries and territories across the globe are affected. We cannot expect others to come to our assistance. No one is coming to defeat this virus for us.

“Instead, the defeat of the virus in our country will be in our hands, alone. We cannot wait for others. We can only depend on ourselves now. And so we must - and we will - end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians, together”.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 11, 2020

Health

CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC: NIGER STATE GOVERNMENT SLASHES 2020 BUDGET BY 36%

Published

3 weeks ago

March 31, 2020

Lawal Sunday Adesegun

Amidst the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, Niger State Executive Council seeks to downsize the 2020 approved budget by 36 per cent.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning Commission, Alhaji Mamman Musa disclosed this during post exco media briefing held at the Government House, Minna.

Alhaji Musa said that the assented 2020 budget which stood at N155b would have a new size of N98b when approved.

He said that they were being mindful of the recurrent expenditure which, in the 2020 budget, stood at 70 Billion while the capital expenditure is 85 Billion…

According to him, when approved, the new budget will concentrate on only projects that have attained 75 per cent completion, adding that new projects would only be considered based on their necessity of demand.

Maman Musa added that overhead cost to Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) have been reduced to 75 per cent as well as travel expenses of government officials.

He said the downward review of the 2020 budget has become imperative due to the global economic downturn caused as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The commissioner said that the 2020 budget was prepared with 90 per cent of income projection coming from the statutory allocation hinged on the oil sector with a benchmark of crude oil at $57 per barrel, complaining that since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the global oil prices dropped below $30 per barrel which has drastically affected the 2020 budget, hence the need for the review.

The commissioner pointed out that the state government is already looking inward towards enhancing its internally generated revenue to cover some of the envisaged shortfall.

Health

COVID-19: DON’T ACCEPT NOSE MASKS FROM UNTRUSTED SOURCES - BODUNRIN WARNS

Published

3 weeks ago

March 31, 2020

Lawal Sunday Adesegun

The Ogun State Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Hakeem Bodunrin (Iyeru) has cautioned the motorists and passengers across the state not to accept nose masks, gloves and sanitizers from untrusted sources.

He made this passionate appeal while addressing newsmen in his Asero’s Office, Abeokuta, state capital, against the backdrop of novel coronavirus pandemic that spreading across the country.

Bodunrin said that it was unhealthy and dangerous to accept nose masks, gloves and sanitizers from untrusted persons, noting that criminals can lace them with chloroform for evil purposes.

“People need to be very careful and cautious of whom they collect nose masks, gloves and sanitizers from, especially our Motorists and Passengers, this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals can lace them with chloroform for evil missions,” Bodunrin said

He noted that after the innocent person had used the laced nose mask, he/she could fall into coma or experience convulsion and the criminals could kidnap, rape or even kill the victim.

According to him “Some criminals can pretend they are from a Foundation or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and so in this period of shortage of nose masks, gloves and sanitizers, they will start distributing free personal protective equipment to the unsuspecting public and if you are not smart, you will fall victim to their trap,”

He added that apart from washing of hands with soap under running water, Bodunrin encouraged Motorists and Passengers to sanitize their brackets, watches and bangles after use, so as to avoid the risk of spreading the virus unconsciously.

He implored both Motorists and Passengers to abide by the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun warnings, rules and regulations for not more that twenty persons in gathering, saying that “prevention is better than cure.”

“We should be a law abiding citizen of the country, let us not spread the virus but prevent ourselves from being infected with COVID-19 pandemic, in fact, they say, prevention is better than cure, we should be endeavour to stay healthy at all time,” Bodunrin warned