Nigerian Newspapers
NMA, others laud new malaria vaccine
• WHO releases guidelines on disease’s prevention in children
NIGERIAN scientists led by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have lauded the discovery of a malaria vaccine which provides 100 per cent protection against the disease.
According to a research published at the weekend in the journal Science, the malaria vaccine has become the first to provide 100 per cent protection against the disease, confounding critics and far surpassing any other experimental malaria vaccine tested.
The researchers said the vaccine, which is being developed in the United States (U.S.), protected 12 out of 15 patients from the disease, when given in high doses; and will now be tested further in clinical trials in Africa.
Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday published a guide on the provision of effective malaria treatment at intervals during this rainy season in the Sahel sub-region with highly seasonal malaria transmission, such as Nigeria.
According to a statement from the WHO, across the Sahel sub-region, most childhood malaria mortality and morbidity occur during the rainy season, which is generally short. Giving effective malaria treatment at intervals during this period has been shown to prevent illness and death from malaria in children.
National Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, told The Guardian Sunday: “The news about the possibility of a new vaccine to prevent malaria is cheery to everyone involved in the fight against malaria at whatever level.
“This is more so to us at NMCP because on a daily basis we are confronted with the question from the affected public: ‘Is there no medicine or vaccine to prevent malaria?’ or more painfully ‘Can’t you people find a medicine that can prevent someone from getting malaria?’ It is painful because we understand the people’s frustration and yet there is nothing we can do in that direction.
“To date the answer to the above questions still remain ‘No’ and we at NMCP are looking forward to a day when we can answer ‘yes!’ Therefore, we are excited that there is a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel for a malaria vaccine, even though in this particular case it could take up to ten years to materialise.”
In the same vein, NMA’s President , Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said the progress made towards the development of effective malaria vaccine is a welcome development especially to the country because of the high malaria burden. Enabulele, however, urged caution: “We must also be careful because this is just a research that is inconclusive and is yet to be commercialised.”
So we must continue to do what we should do to keep malaria at bay like keeping the environment clean without stagnant water, sleeping under insecticide treated nets, using ACTs, among others.”
Ezeigwe, however, said there are about 20 other vaccine projects for malaria prevention at various stages of clinical trials globally. She said the leading vaccine candidate in the group, RTS, S is currently undergoing the phase III trial and is likely to come into use by 2015 if all goes as well as expected. “It is being develoed by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) with funding support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” the NMCP boss said.
He said it was very important to also note that when a vaccine does become available it would only complement the tools already been deployed to fight malaria, and not replace them. “This is because so far results of the on-going trials have not indicated full protection against malaria,” she said.
Ezeigwe, however, said people should continue to use Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs); pregnant women must continue to demand for Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp) at antenatal visits; and every one with suspected malaria must get tested and treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) if found positive for malaria.
The WHO in a statement yesterday said: “Malaria continues to be a major health problem in many parts of the world. Across the Sahel sub-region of Africa, most childhood malaria mortality and morbidity occur during the rainy season, which is generally short. The provision of effective malaria treatment at intervals during this period has been shown to prevent illness and death from malaria among children.
“… This guide provides the necessary technical and operational information and tools for country-level policy-makers and programme managers to decide on how to adopt and implement SMC.”
Until now, no effective malaria vaccine is available. However, the WHO has set a target to develop a malaria vaccine with 80 per cent efficacy by 2025.
However, WHO’s Director in charge of Global Malaria Programme, Dr. Robert Newman, told The Guardian at the just concluded African Union Abuja + 12 Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria that malaria vaccine trials are on-going on 11 sites across seven countries in Africa indicated remarkable progress, with signals that the world might have its first successful malaria vaccine by the year 2015.
Previous reports suggested that a malaria vaccine, RTS, S that could help protect young children and infants in malaria-endemic areas against infection and clinical disease caused by plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly species of the malaria parasite, may become available globally by the end of 2014.
But funding and innovation are critical to sustain progress in malaria fight, according to African leaders.
Significant progress has been made in scaling up malaria control efforts and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), an alliance of 43 African Heads of State and the African Union working to end malaria-related deaths on the continent said Africa is better prepared to defeat malaria now than at any other time in history.
The statement reads: “Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a complete treatment course of amodiaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ+SP) given at monthly intervals to children aged three to 59 months, beginning at the start of the transmission season (in areas where the therapeutic efficacy of AQ+SP remains high). It is recommended in areas of the Sahel sub-region with highly seasonal malaria transmission.” Key interventions currently recommended by WHO for the control of malaria are the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and/or indoor residual spraying (IRS) for vector control, and prompt access to diagnostic testing of suspected malaria and treatment of confirmed cases. Additional interventions which are recommended in areas of high transmission for specific high risk groups include Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and Intermittent Preventive Treatment in infancy (IPTi).
————————————————————————————————————————-
Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
DisNaija.Com publishes regular posts on Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Online Nigeria Gist.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Nigerian Newspapers
Follow @Dis_Naija
Your Opinion Counts. Be sure To Leave A Comment, If You Have Any.
Please Like, Share or Tweet. Your Support Is Appreciated.
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Kamaru Usman has raked in a mammoth £1.1million, about N584.2 million after his impressive knockout victory over Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night, Sportivation.com.ng reports.
The Nigerian Nightmare has been handsomely rewarded for his stunning performance and he was the best-paid fighter on the card which was witnessed by 15, 000 fans in Florida.
According to Daily Mail, Usman earned £538,000 to show up, £459,000 pay-per-view bonus, a £43,000 sponsorship bonus and a well deserved £35,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Jorge Masvidal also earned £358,000 to show, £186,000 in pay-per-view money and a £28,000 sponsorship bonus.
This is the biggest payday of Usman’s career so far and the Welterweight champion also benefited from the fact that Masvidal is also a top draw for the fans.
Kamaru Usman is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler.
Sourced From: Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
Buhari Will Win In 2019: US Institute
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the 2019 election. The organisation...
Why Buhari Deserves Second Term – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that President Muhammadu Buhari deserved second term election because,...
Atiku Presidential Campaign Council: PDP Releases List of Members
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday released the list of party members to handle the campaign team of the...
Obasanjo Forgives Atiku, Endorses Him For President
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday said he has reviewed his stance on not backing his former deputy for the...
Buhari, Atiku In Battle Of Integrity Over 2019 Poll
THE brickbats continued yesterday between President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and...