Thursday, October 17, 2024

Nigeria to take delivery of malaria vaccines

Nigeria is set to receive its first shipment of the highly anticipated malaria vaccines on Thursday, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against one of its deadliest diseases.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) announced that the vaccines would be received in Abuja by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) confirmed the event through an invitation sent by the agency on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the arrival of the vaccines is an initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to distribute malaria vaccines to high-burden countries across Africa, including Nigeria.

The NPHCDA said that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the country would officially unveil the malaria vaccines on Thursday to help protect children from the life-threatening disease.

NAN reports that the introduction of the malaria vaccine is expected to significantly reduce malaria cases and deaths, especially in vulnerable populations.

The government has developed a strategic distribution plan to prioritise regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

The rollout will begin in these high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

The expected vaccines, known as RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix), have been proven to reduce malaria cases and mortality among young children in large clinical trials across Africa.

Nigeria will be the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following Ghana and Kenya, which began using the vaccine in 2023.

Meanwhile, malaria remains a serious public health issue in Nigeria, affecting 97 percent of the population.

Transmission occurs all year-round in the southern regions and lasts up to three months in the northern regions.

The primary malaria vectors are “Anopheles coluzzii” and “Anopheles gambiae”, with “Anopheles funestus” playing a secondary role in some areas.

Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of global malaria deaths, making it the country with the highest malaria burden in the world.

The prevalence of malaria among children under five years dropped from 42 per cent in 2010 to 23 percent in 2018.

There are significant disparities between rural (31 per cent) and urban (13 per cent) populations, as well as socioeconomic groups.

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) launched the High Burden, High Impact (HBHI) approach in response to the ongoing malaria crisis.

The goal is to reduce malaria prevalence to below 10 percent and malaria-related deaths to fewer than 50 per 1,000 people by 2025.

Efforts have included switching to injectable artesunate for severe malaria treatment and increasing coverage of preventive malaria treatments for pregnant women.

The percentage of pregnant women receiving at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine increased from 16.6 per cent in 2018 to 31 per cent in 2021.

However, challenges such as low antenatal care attendance and limited access to treatment remain obstacles to further progress.

NAN reports that public health experts are optimistic about the vaccine’s potential to save lives.

They believe that this vaccine, when combined with other preventive measures, will significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria and bring the country closer to achieving the goal of a malaria-free Africa.

Vanguard

Related story: Video - Nigerian health workers seek increased government support to control malaria

Death Toll rises to 153 from Nigeria fuel tanker explosion

The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has risen to at least 153, with another 100 people injured, police told CNN Thursday.

The blast, which happened late evening local time on Tuesday in Majiya, a village in Jigawa state, came after the vehicle crashed and while locals were attempting to retrieve the fuel.

“The driver lost control and the tanker somersaulted and spilled fuel into a drainage ditch,” Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam said.

“As a result, residents rushed to scoop the fuel when the explosion happened.”

A mass burial was held on Wednesday afternoon for some of the victims, Adam said.

The death toll rose steadily since news of the deadly explosion broke.

“People are feeling very sad,” said Umar Majia, a member of the community whose 12-year-old nephew was killed in the blast.

“This type of incident has never happened in the community. It is the worst tragedy so far,” he told CNN.

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima mourned the victims in a statement Wednesday, saying: “My heart aches for those who have had their families torn apart by this disaster.

“This devastating incident has shaken us all to our core. The Federal Government stands with the people of Jigawa. We are mobilising all necessary resources to support the injured and assist the families affected by this calamity.”

Shettima also announced “immediate federal government intervention and called for a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols.”

The blast comes a month after at least 48 people were killed in a similar accident in the north-central Niger state.

Fuel tanker explosions are not unusual in Africa’s most populous country, where oil supplies are frequently dispatched by road.

Previous fires have led to multiple casualties. In 2020, more than 500 people lost their lives in more than 1,500 fuel tanker accidents recorded that year, according to Nigeria’s road safety agency.

Residents, beleaguered by soaring living costs in the West African nation - where gasoline is scarce and expensive - often brave danger to scoop fuel from fallen tankers or damaged oil pipelines.

Gas prices have risen dramatically to more than six times their usual rate since the government ended fuel subsidies last year.

Poverty remains rife in Nigeria despite its status as one of Africa’s largest oil producers.

By Nimi Princewill, CNN

Related story: Nigeria fuel tanker explosion kills over 90, injures dozens

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Nigeria fuel tanker explosion kills over 90, injures dozens

More than 90 people have been killed and 50 wounded after a fuel tanker exploded in northwestern Nigeria, according to police.

The overnight explosion took place on an expressway in Jigawa state as dozens of people rushed to the vehicle to collect the fuel, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

“The residents were scooping up fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” Lawan Adamu told The Associated Press news agency.

The fire burned into the early hours of Wednesday.

Last month, at least 48 people were killed in an explosion after a fuel tanker collided with another truck in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state.

Deadly truck accidents are common along most of the major roads in Nigeria, with experts attributing many of them to reckless driving, poor road conditions and poorly maintained vehicles.

In 2020 alone, there were 1,531 petrol tanker crashes resulting in 535 fatalities and 1,142 injuries, according to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company in early September increased the price of petrol by at least 39 percent, the second major hike in more than a year.

Al Jazeera

Related story: More than 50 killed in Nigeria fuel tanker crash





Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Video - Experts warn of rise in unemployment in Nigeria due to high fuel prices



Nigeria’s informal sector, which accounts for around 80 percent of total jobs has been hit by a wave of resignations, as some workers are unable to afford the daily commute after a hike in fuel prices. Economists said a rise in unemployment could affect the country’s economy and security.

CGTN

Video - Nigeria hopes for better finish at U-17 Women's World Cup



The Flamingoes, who finished third in the last edition of the tournament in India in 2022, completed preparations for the upcoming competition in the Dominican Republic. The team is placed in Group alongside the hosts, Ecuador and New Zealand.

CGTN