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India: over 100 million people fail to turn up for second Covid vaccine

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India: over 100 million people fail to turn up for second Covid vaccine

More than 100 million Indians have not turned up for their second coronavirus vaccine dose, official data showed, raising concerns of a resurgence in the disease despite a relatively low infection rate.

Apart from leaving these people at risk of catching Covid-19, their “vaccine truancy” endangers India’s target of inoculating all adults by 31 December, a target that is in any case unlikely to be met owing to the earlier shortage of vaccines at the start of the inoculation campaign.

“We have seen this complacency with tuberculosis patients. They start taking the drugs and after a few weeks, they feel better so they stop even though they have to take them for six months,” said Bhavna Dewan, a health worker in Nainital. “It’s a similar mentality with the vaccine. I’m sure they feel one dose is enough because no one is falling ill.”

Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s health minister, is urging states to address the issue. From next month, he said, health workers will make door-to-door visits to find the truants.

The figure of 103.4m missed doses comes just a week after India celebrated administering 1bn doses thanks to the efforts of health workers who trekked over mountains, picked their way through landslide rubble, crossed turbulent rivers, and braved jungles to reach the remotest hamlets.

India has administered first doses to 725 million people, or to 77% of its’ 944 million adults, and second doses to 316 million, or 34%.

But some experts are wondering if giving the second dose might prove to be even more of a challenge if complacency, spawned by the belief that the worst is over, has set in.

For the last 29 days, new daily cases have been below 30,000. In the past few days, they have hovered around 13-to-15,000 a day, the lowest for eight months.

Life has returned to something very close to normal. People are celebrating festivals with abandon, socialising, shopping, and eating out. The low daily new infection rate has made many Indians believe a third wave is unlikely. Experts have also been saying that, barring a new variant, a third wave seems a remote prospect.

Still, Dr Satyajit Rath, a scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, said the 103.4 million figure was only a cause for concern if people never get their second shot.

“If people have always dallied a little in coming in for their second dose, maybe coming a week or two or a month later than prescribed because they were busy, then it is not alarming. It simply means that many of these 103.4 million people will catch up. But if a larger percentage of people are coming in late, then it is concerning. But we don’t know,” he said.

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Health workers declare 7 days nationwide warning strike

The Joint Health Sectors Union, JOHESU, in collaboration with the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, AHPA, have declared seven days nationwide warning strike commencing from midnight of Friday, October 25, 2024.

The National President, JOHESU, Kabiru Minjibir, made this declaration while addressing newsmen at the end of the unions’ expanded National Executive Council, NEC, hybrid meeting in Abuja on Friday.

Minjibir said the unions were yet to get any positive response from the federal government on some of the critical issues raised in-spite of repeated assurances during meetings with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

“If at the end of the seven days warning strike, the federal government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU have no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.

“Nigerians should note that, this action would have been avoided if the federal government had, within the window of the 15-day notice of strike or ultimatum, responded by utilising all options available in the relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to apprehend this dispute of right.

“JOHESU is always committed to the use of the instrumentality of social dialogue to resolve matters affecting the welfare and working conditions of members.

”We shall, therefore, keep all our channels of communication open during this period,” he said.

Recall that the unions had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government on October 10, 2024, to address the issues or risk total shut down of its operations in hospitals nationwide.

The workers were demanding the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, immediate payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears (June – Dec., 2023), and Immediate payment of nine (9) months’ (Jan – Sept. 2024) salary to workers of Regulatory Agencies.

Other demands are the immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions.

They are also demanding the commencement of the process to upward review of retirement age of health workers through Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to the Federal Executive Council.

Other issues under contention included tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, immediate payment of COVID 19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers.

They are also demanding immediate suspension of planned establishment and activities of National Health Facility Regulatory Agency, NHFRA.

Also, JOHESU is demanding the withdrawal of the unlawful Drug Revolving Fund, DRF, Standard Operating Procedures, SOP, by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as the full implementation of approved entry point, call duty and other allowances for holders of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D).

Members of JOHESU affiliate Unions are from the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP.

Others are Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU.

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Cholera outbreak kills 10 persons in Enugu

The Enugu State Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of 10 persons following a cholera outbreak in the state.

Dr Egwuonwu Samuel, Director of Medical Services, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Guild of Medical Directors, on behalf of the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, on Monday in Enugu.

According to Egwuonwu, the ministry is officially notifying the public about a cholera outbreak in the state, prompting swift action to prevent further spread of the disease.

He said that the ministry disclosed alarming reports of several cholera cases, with an estimated 10 fatalities thus far, adding that the State Ministry of Health and its partners had begun efforts to contain the outbreak.

“Health facilities and medical personnel are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with symptoms such as acute diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

“We are calling for urgent implementation of heightened Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures across medical establishments to curb the spread of the disease.

“Medical practitioners are urged to step up their precautionary measures and report any suspected cases promptly,” he said.

He added that, “This outbreak raises significant public health concerns, as cholera is a highly infectious disease, often caused by contaminated water or food.

“The Ministry’s swift response is seen as a critical step in containing the outbreak and protecting the population from further harm”.

Egwuonwu, however, appealed to the public to adhere strictly to hygienic practices, such as boiling water before drinking, washing hands frequently, and avoiding the consumption of poorly handled food.

He stressed that the Enugu state government was expected to release further guidelines and updates as the situation unfolds, while efforts to mitigate the outbreak continue in collaboration with local and international health partners.

(NAN)

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Cholera death toll now 378 – NCDC reveals

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a staggering 14,237 cases of cholera across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of October 13, 2024.

The outbreak, which has affected 339 local government areas, has led to 378 deaths, bringing the case-fatality ratio to 2.7%, according to NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Idris emphasized that cholera remains a significant public health issue, particularly in regions with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.

He noted that the current surge in cases is largely due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding, particularly in the northern states of Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano, which have become the epicenters of the outbreak. Earlier in the year, the outbreak was concentrated in the southern states as the rainy season began.

Dr. Idris highlighted the vulnerability of children under five, who have been disproportionately affected by the outbreak, and noted that the number of cholera cases has more than doubled compared to the same period last year.

The NCDC has mobilized rapid response teams to the hardest-hit areas, working with health ministries and stakeholders to control the spread of the disease.

High-level advocacy visits have also been conducted to states such as Borno to engage with health leadership and offer support to flood-displaced communities.

In partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the NCDC has implemented reactive cholera vaccinations in internally displaced persons camps, significantly reducing reported cases.

In addition to cholera, Dr. Idris revealed that confirmed cases of Mpox in Nigeria have risen to 102 across 26 states and the FCT, up from 94 previously reported.

The NCDC continues to urge Nigerians to maintain good personal hygiene, particularly regular hand washing with soap and water, and to seek immediate medical care for symptoms of cholera, including severe diarrhea and vomiting.

Dr. Idris reaffirmed the NCDC’s commitment to enhancing surveillance, providing prompt treatment, and improving sanitation practices in affected communities, stressing that cholera is preventable with concerted efforts.

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