The deaths of 66 children in the West African country could deal a major blow to India’s image as a “pharmacy of the world”.

The WHO this week said laboratory analysis of four Maiden products – Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup – had confirmed “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury.

Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are used in antifreeze and brake fluids and other industrial applications but also as a cheaper alternative in some pharmaceutical products to glycerine, a solvent or thickening agent in many cough syrups.

India’s health ministry said samples of all four products that had been exported to Gambia had been sent for testing to a federal laboratory and the results would “guide the further course of action as well as bring clarity on the inputs received/to be received from WHO.”

A spike in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five was detected in Gambia in late July.

The government in Banjul announced last month that it was investigating the deaths, and the country’s Health Ministry ordered hospitals to discontinue the use of syrup-based paracetamol treatment after at least 28 children died of kidney failure.

The post Cough Syrup: India Tests Samples Of Drugs Linked To Deaths Of 66 Children appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

WHO is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.

WHO is recruiting to fill the positions below:

1.) Management and Administration (MGA) Officer
Location: Abuja
Salary: USD 75,602 Annually.
Deadline: 19th September, 2022.
Click here to apply online

2.) Technical Officer, Laboratory
Location: Abuja
Salary: N19,956,269 annually.
Deadline: 14th September, 2022.

The post Apply For WHO Recruitment 2022 appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

W.H.O.’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a recent declaration said:  “We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria.

“This process demonstrates once again that this vital tool needs to be sharpened to make it more effective.”

More than 14,000 monkeypox cases have now been detected across the globe in more than 70 countries and territories, according to the WHO. Thus far, five deaths have been reported, all of which have occurred in Africa.

In the United States, more than 2,300 cases are confirmed or suspected in states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New York, a total of 679 cases of monkeypox have now been confirmed, with the vast majority of them — 94% — detected in New York City, state officials said on Wednesday.

Latest epidemiological summary from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirms 17 new cases of monkeypox in 12 states.They are: Ondo (three cases); Adamawa (two); Bayelsa (two); Delta (two); Anambra (one); Borno (one); Edo (one); Gombe (one); Katsina (one); Kogi (one); Plateau (one) and Lagos (one).

The post WHO Declares MonkeyPox ‘Global Emergency’ appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Wednesday said it was “a historic moment” debuting a tool that could save the lives of tens of thousands of children in Africa each year.

Malaria is among the oldest known and deadliest infectious diseases.

Malaria kills about half a million people each year, nearly all of them in sub-Saharan Africa — among them 260,000 children under age 5.

The new vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, rouses a child’s immune system to thwart Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of five malaria pathogens and the most prevalent in Africa.

The vaccine is not just a first for malaria — it is the first developed for any parasitic disease.

The post W.H.O. Approves First Malaria Vaccine appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

See his speech below.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY BOSS MUSTAPHA, SECRETARY TO
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION AND CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-10 PANDEMIC HELD ON MONDAY, 23RD MARCH, 2020

Members of the Press,

In furtherance of our ongoing engagement with the public and stakeholders through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), I have found it necessary to update you on recent developments regarding the management of matters arising from COVID-19 Pandemic.
2. Let me remind you that as at the time the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), briefed you earlier today, the numbers from the World Health Organisation (WHO), confirmed that the virus has covered 192 countries, reporting over 329,000 cases. In Africa, 42 out of 54 countries have reported cases while 48 deaths have been recorded.
3. In Nigeria 36 cases have been reported and one fatality has occurred. The first responders, particularly the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), continues to attend to reports received through telephone calls and other medium.
4. We commend Nigerians for stepping out to report and/or make enquires through the dedicated hotlines. Records show that on Sunday, 22nd March, 2020, over 4500 calls were received. This shows the high level of awareness amongst Nigerians.
5. The strategy of government is to focus on testing, detection and containment through contact tracking in order to minimize hugely, the possibility of community spread. We urge anyone experiencing the symptoms of the virus or has been in contact with anyone who has been suspected or tested positive to please report at the nearest medical facility or the designated center.

6. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) continues to monitor the global and domestic developments and has isolated Lagos and Abuja for particular attention in view of their population, mobility and number of cases already reported.

7. As you are all aware, a number of advisories have been issued and measures taken. Part of the measures being taken presently include the following:
i. escalating the nation’s capacity for testing and detection through the acquisition of more testing kits and establishment of additional test centres;
ii. acquisition of personnel protection equipment (PPE) for different categories of frontline personnel;
iii. enhancing contact tracking;
iv. deepening awareness creation;
v. mobilization of experts and trained personnel whether in service or retired;
vi. introduction of social distancing policies and banning mass gathering of over fifty (50) persons
vii. closure of schools and tertiary institutions;
viii. The total ban on international travels shall commence at 12.00 midnight tonight at all our airports; and
ix. leaders of different faiths have been encouraged to restrict services and activities that involve mass gathering of more than fifty of their adherents. State governments are also enforcing this policy at different levels.
8. Ladies and gentlemen, after a further review, Mr. President on the recommendation of Presidential Task Force (PTF) has approved the following additional measures:
i. Suspension of the weekly FEC meetings until further notice;
ii. Postponement of the meeting of the Council of State scheduled for Thursday 26th March, 2020;
iii. All land borders that have been hitherto under partial closure shall now be closed for human traffic for four weeks effective, 23rd March, 2020;
iv. In order to protect Federal Civil and Public Servants, a circular to be issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) shall direct on actions to be taken immediately;
v. If and when the need arises, any national assets required for use in the response to COVID-19 shall be mobilized and deployed;
vi. Federal Government, is at the highest level, engaging with State Governors in order to ensure a collaborative and effective response to COVID-19 Pandemic; and
vii. All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non- essential outings, until further advice is given.
9. Finally, the PTF assures all Nigerians of the concerns of Mr. President and his determination to mobilize all resources to backup this national response. However, this commitment should be reciprocated by all citizens by respecting the advisory and obeying measures put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) shall be updating Nigerians from time to time when the need arise.
10. I thank you very much.

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Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the continent should learn from how the spread of virus has sped up elsewhere,

He warned that while Africa’s confirmed cases were currently low – around 640 – there was no reason for complacency.

“Africa should wake up, my continent should wake up.”

Health experts warn that strained public health systems in Africa could become quickly overwhelmed if the virus takes hold, especially in overcrowded urban areas.

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