Covid-19 Roundup: Former senate leader dies, Afrexim Bank donates 40m vaccines to Nigeria

Ejike Kanife
Nigerian being vaccinated
Nigerian being vaccinated

The third wave of Covid-19 is in full effect in Nigeria, spurred by the Delta variant of it. But even as Nigerians continue to fall sick with many languishing in hospitals, residents doctors remain on a strike that has lasted for more than three weeks.

The number of cases in Nigeria continues to rise by the week, with average daily cases clocking 600. A total of 4,271 cases were recorded in the last 7 days with 29 deaths. Among the dead is a former senate leader of the country.

South Africa continues to lead the African continent in coronavirus cases, averaging 10,000 cases per day. Around the world, India with 32,285,101 is quickly catching up with the USA currently at 37,896,582 cases. The increasing threat of the virus has forced the Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, to call on everyone to consider the Covid-19 jab as an ‘act of love’.

Former Senate leader, Ibrahim Mantu dies

Ibrahim Mantu

A former deputy senate president of Nigeria, Ibrahim Mantu, has died from Covid-19 complications. The former senator died in a private facility after 9 days of isolation and intensive treatment. He was 74 years old.

“He fell ill about nine days ago and was receiving treatment at home but he was rushed to the hospital when there was no sign of improvement,” a family source told Daily Trust. Mantu has since been buried according to Muslim rites.

Ibrahim Mantu who hails from Plateau State was elected Deputy Senate President in 2001 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He held the position until 2007 when he did not return to the senate.

Nigeria resumes 2nd phase of Covid-19 vaccination

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving his second jab of Covid-19 vaccine, May, 2021

The Federal Government has resumed the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination on Monday. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shauib, also said Nigeria will take delivery of 698,880 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

 He said the country is also expecting an additional 3.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. These will be enough for persons who are due for their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and to start administering the vaccine to new people.

While assuring that all brands of vaccines are safe, he said his agency has trained 40,739 personnel comprising its own health workers and partners in preparation for the exercise. The core focus would be logistics, data, and communications to improve the overall delivery of vaccination in the country.

Afrexim Bank donates 40 million J&J vaccines to Nigeria

The African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) has announced the donation of 40 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nigeria. This was revealed by its President, Prof. Benedict Oramah. The vaccines would be delivered before the end of 2022.

According to Oramah, the donation was part of the bank’s commitment to ensuring at the continent achieves herd immunity by vaccinating about 60 per cent of Africa’s population against the disease.

The president also reiterated Afrexim’s commitment to developing a 500-bed state-of-the-art hospital in collaboration with its international partners like the Kings College Hospital in the UK.

Kenyan brothers detained for breaking Covid-19 curfew die in custody

Covid-19 Roundup: Former senate leader dies, Afrexim Bank donates 40m vaccines to Nigeria
Kenya Police

Two Kenyan brothers held in detention for breaking a Covid-19 curfew have tragically died in police custody. The brothers, Benson Njiru Ndwiga (22) and Emmanuel Marura Ndwiga (19) were arrested for being outdoors after a 10pm nationwide curfew.

Three days after their arrest, relatives found their bodies at a local morgue. An autopsy report concluded that Benson and Emmanuel died of head and rib injuries. While police officers claimed they had fallen to their deaths from a moving police vehicle, the family and the general public have doubted the police account.

The death of the brothers have since sparked protests and demonstrations in Embu County, Eastern Kenya while the officers involved have been suspended with immediate effect.


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