News
FG Raises Fresh Ebola Alert as Liberia Confirms Resurgence
Federal government yesterday raised the Ebola alert level across all states, urging the ministries of health and health facilities across the country to report any suspected case to the Federal Ministry of Health.
This is coming as Liberia confirmed a second case of Ebola on Tuesday, just a day after authorities said they had detected a new case of the deadly virus previously thought to have been eliminated from the country.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, in a statement by Ayo Adesugba, director, Press, urged Nigerians not to panic but to maintain vigilance.
The statement reads: “A new case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been reported in Liberia. This means that the country which was certified EVD free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on May 9, 2015 has witnessed a resurgence of the disease.
“Members of the public are advised to observe basic hygiene and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.”
The ministry’s spokesperson reiterated means of identifying Ebola cases, saying: “It must be noted that the main symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease are fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Patients in some cases, also have neurological symptoms of becoming confused and restless.
In Liberia, authorities said they had detected a new case of the deadly virus previously thought to have been eliminated from the country.
“We have two confirmed cases today in Liberia,” said Dr Moses Massaquoi, Case Management team leader for Liberia’s Ebola task force. He did not provide details of the new case.
The body of a 17 year-old boy from Margibi County, a rural area outside of Monrovia, was confirmed to be positive for the virus on Sunday and was buried the same day.
It is not clear how he was infected and the information was not made public until Tuesday.
Massaquoi said tests were underway to establish whether there are further cases.
Health officials said they isolated people who had contact with the teenager and are at risk of further infection.
A message from a social media account of the Liberian Information Ministry said two people from the teenager’s home had been confirmed as Ebola positive.
It was not immediately possible to verify that information nor was it clear if that included the case cited by Massaquoi.
Liberia, once at the centre of the worst recorded Ebola epidemic in history, was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation on May 9 after going 42 days with no new infections.
The cross-border outbreak has killed more than 11,200 people since it began in December 2013. Twenty new cases were reported in the week to June 21 in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
- Telecom3 days ago
World Earth Day: Kuda Partners with Wecyclers to Clean up Communities in Lagos
- Telecom3 days ago
Airtel Boosts NIPR Public Relations Week with Onsite Unlimited Data Connection
- News2 days ago
UK Pledges €1Bn to Fight against Malaria in Nigeria
- Editorial2 days ago
Telcos Ask NCC to Allow Them Hike Tariff
- Broadcasting3 days ago
NCC Seeks Media Collaboration on Copyright Infringement
- Broadcasting2 days ago
FCCPC to Review Multichoice’s Tariff Hike
- Broadcasting2 days ago
OJI Demands Ban on Netflix, TikTok, Others over Same-Sex Content
- News2 days ago
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman