CORONA VIRUS

Rwanda On A Lockdown, Government Promises To Take Care Of Needy

Published

12 months ago

March 22, 2020

The government will ensure vulnerable members of the society are taken care of as Rwanda goes on 2-week lockdown that began midnight March 21 after the Primer Minister issued the directive.

In a televised address, Local Government Minister, Anasthase Shayaka, said the government is assessing the situation and will ensure vulnerable Rwandans affected by the lockdown will not starve.

The lockdown comes after a week long social distancing exercise, but it seemed the situation was escalating at an alarming level.

Health Minister Dr. Daniel Ngamije said over 680 people had already interacted with the 17 cases undergoing treatment and only 60% of them have been contacted, except that those with symptoms have been tested.

The World Health Organisation estimates a one infected person can spread the virus to at least 2.6 people. Kigali is a congested city, and with a busy incoming traffic from the countryside everyday. This could caused as fast and disastrous spread of the virus.

The Prime Minister’s directive for a lockdown includes suspension of all intercity travels, closure of all border, and closure of businesses except grocery stores, fuel stations and pharmacies. Private and public employees will work from home. Only those providing essential services such as telecommunication, banking, security, shall be allowed to move.

CORONA VIRUS

Congolese Scientist Dies After Inventing COVID-19 Drug

Published

31 mins ago

March 5, 2021

Staff Writer

A Congolese scientist, Étienne-Flaubert Bantangu Mpesa, who invented ManaCovid, a Covid-19 drug, has died from DR Congo’s capiyao, Kinsasha.

The inventor pharmacist of Manacovid, died on Thursday night, March 4, in Kinshasa, according to a statement from his family.

Sources say he succumbed to pancreatic cancer from a hospital in the capital where he had been charged for about two weeks, although other sources say the 79 year-olds died mysteriously.

He was Chairman of board of directore of the Luozi Pharmaceutical Research Center (CRPL). The drug had been certified by DR Congo Health Ministry in January 2021, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) rejected it, despite government having provided evidence of recovered cases after taking the medication.

The Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Pharmacy and Medicines had promised to support the rest of the process to allow Covid-19 patients to access the medicine.

ManaCovid, launched in November 2020 is an “anti Coronavirus” drug, invented by the Congolese pharmacist.

According to the scientific data from the CRPL, the validation process followed its normal standards. The Centre has a credible background in pharmacology.

Clinical trials carried out on 300 symptomatic patients tested positive for Covid-19. In 5 days or less, after taking the medication, they had successfully recovered.

Dr Congo government has not issued any statement regarding his death.

CORONA VIRUS

Tanzania Loses 25 priests, 60 nuns in 2 Months Due to Covid-19

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2021

Staff Writer

Reports reaching Taarifa reveal that more than 25 priests, 60 sisters and two elders of the laity have died within two months of various causes including respiratory challenges.

Father Charles Kitima the General Secretary of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) revealed the troublesome news while addressing the media on the Covid epidemic. He said the deaths occurred between mid December and February in different parts of the country.

He has urged church members to continue taking precautions against the disease in accordance with health ministry guidelines.

“Please continue taking precautions against this disease by following the instructions of the Ministry of Health. Priests are dying and sisters are dying but this number within two months has shocked us,” said Kitima.

He said TEC president Gervas Nyaisonga had already distributed guidelines to bishops of various dioceses on measures to protect themselves against Covid while providing services.

CORONA VIRUS

South Kivu Movement Opposes Vaccination Against Covid-19

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2021

Staff Writer

A group of people through their umbrella organisation in South Kivu province of the DRC have warned government against attempts of carrying out vaccination against covid-19 in their area.

The citizen movement Réveil des indignés has warned non-governmental organizations and the authorities against any manipulation of cases of covid-19 in the provinces.

”Le Réveil des indignés has already announced that it will thwart any form of suspected vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in South Kivu, and warns NGOs and authorities against any manipulation of Covid-19 cases in the provinces. Insecurity kills more than covid-19, ” the group said in a statement.

The vaccination phase against the Covid-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is announced for next week in Kinshasa, epicenter of the pandemic in the DRC; the Minister of Health, Dr Eteni Longondo announced, specifying that the first people concerned for vaccination are the medical staff, the elderly and people suffering from diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, February 25, a general panic was noted in schools in the city of Bukavu.

Some parents had come to withdraw their children from schools following a rumor of a certain campaign to vaccinate students against Covid-19.

DRC received on March 2, 2021 at N’djili international airport, a batch of 1.7 million doses of vaccines to be administered against the Covid-19 pandemic in the DRC.

Upon his reception, the Minister of Health, Dr Eteni Longondo said he was satisfied with the arrival of vaccines in the DRC and promised to continue with the public awareness campaign for a few days before the actual vaccination stage. said.