Also, Buhari orders immediate release of health workers' salaries...
Let’s begin with updates on the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Latest data released on Friday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has shown no patient has died from Covid-19 complications in the past four days, which means the total number of fatalities remain at 2 thousand, 983. The NCDC data, however, shows 1 thousand and 51 new infections were reported on Thursday across 11 states.
Staying with health matters, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says 80 persons died of Lassa Fever in 2021 while 434 cases were reported in the year. The NCDC notes that Lassa Fever is endemic in Nigeria like in several other countries in West Africa, adding that and most cases are seen during the dry season, often between November and May. The agency says it is participating in the largest-ever Lassa fever study supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations to provide an accurate assessment of the incidence of the disease in West Africa.
Still talking health,
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Dr Zainab Ahmed to release the salaries of health workers, including doctors, that were seized while enforcing the no-work, no-pay policy. Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige confirmed this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday. The minister says the approval covers members of the Joint Health Services Union, JOHESU, who went on strike in 2018.
Finally,
NYSC’s Oyindamola Zainab Sanni, who died during the collapse of the 21-storey building, has been laid to rest. 26-year-old Oyindamola was interred at Ikoyi cemetery without the usual fanfare accorded to a corps member who dies during their service year. This comes as Lagos state government released the bodies of some victims of Ikoyi 21 storey building collapse, to their families. Correspondent Emmanuel Onwuka reports that family members of some of the victims were contacted via phone by officials of the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
