Metro

Health officials say Rwanda’s Marburg cases drop as Mpox spreads across Africa

Published

2 months ago

October 20, 2024

The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Rwanda’s health minister has revealed that although the deadly Marburg virus outbreak in their country is lessening due to vaccinations of the most susceptible individuals, such as healthcare workers, Mpox cases are still spreading to new African nations.

Early in October, Rwanda started giving out doses of the Marburg virus vaccine to contain an outbreak of the disease that resembles Ebola in the East African nation.

According to Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana, the number of new infections has now dropped by more than 50% as compared to the first two weeks. She also stated that most patients were healing in medical facilities and that the nation had gone days without any new cases or fatalities.

“Overall, the trend is very encouraging, very positive, both on the new infections declining significantly, and also the mortality reducing,” Nsanzimana told reporters in an online briefing.

According to the ministry, there have been 15 fatalities and 62 confirmed instances of viral hemorrhagic fever as of late. According to him, nine patients were still receiving treatment while 38 had fully recovered from the illness.

At the same briefing, Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, said that the Mpox outbreak, which the World Health Organisation had labelled a public health emergency of worldwide concern, was still spreading over the continent.

According to Kaseya, the afflicted countries increased from six African Union members in April to eighteen in October.

“We don’t want to see all African countries being affected. This is why we need to intensify our efforts,” he said.

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 42,000 suspected cases of Mpox in the continent, with 1,100 deaths reported so far this year.

Kaseya stated that although over $800 million has been committed to the organization’s fight against Mpox, donors are taking their time to provide the funds and vaccines that are required to speed up the response.

“We want now to see concrete action on the ground to stop this outbreak… We cannot continue like that. We need to save the lives of people, we need to give a future to our continent.”

Related Topics:Featured Marburg virus Rwanda

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Metro

Lungu: Zambian law association calls for respect of court decisions

Published

17 hours ago

December 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has called on citizens to respect court decisions amid widespread criticism over the barring of ex-President Edgar Lungu from contesting the 2026 presidential election by the Constitutional Court.

The association, while reacting to the ruling, urged those affected by the court’s judgement to respect its decision.

The Constitutional Court had determined that Lungu was ineligible to contest future elections, having already served two terms as Republican President, but the ruling has generated criticism from Lungu and opposition figures who see it as a ploy by President Hakainde Hichilema to silence the opposition.

However, LAZ, in a statement issued by its President Lungisani Zulu, noted that the decision departs from the Court’s earlier rulings in cases such as Daniel Pule and Others vs Attorney General and Others, Bampi Aubrey Kapalasa and Another vs The Attorney General, and Legal Resources Foundation vs Edgar Lungu and the Attorney General.

Zulu expressed concern over the potential risks posed by inconsistent rulings from the apex court, cautioning that such fluctuations could erode public confidence in the Judiciary.

However, Zulu reiterated the importance of respecting the Court’s authority.

“Under Part 8 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, judicial authority, derived from the people of Zambia, is vested in the courts, which have the final say on constitutional interpretation,” he stated.

Zulu further stressed that the Constitutional Court plays a critical role in settling constitutional disputes and underscored the need for citizens to uphold the integrity of governance institutions, including the judiciary.

“At the same time, in line with Article 118 of the Constitution, we strongly remind the Judiciary to ensure that judicial power is exercised in a just and fair manner,” he added.

The LAZ President expressed hope that consistent and fair judicial decisions would enhance accountability and maintain public confidence in the Judiciary, a cornerstone of Zambia’s democratic governance.

Metro

Nigeria: President Tinubu’s reforms, economic policies yielding positive results— Minister

Published

17 hours ago

December 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has backed the reforms and economic policies embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu since coming into office in 2023, saying they are yielding significant positive results despite the hardship currently being faced by citizens.

Matawalle, who disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director, Information and Public Relations in Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, said Tinubu’s policies, which include the new tax reforms and several key reforms across various sectors, were already contributing to a turnaround in the country’s economy and would, in the long run, be of benefit to all Nigerians.

The former Zamfara State governor also urged critics of the Tinubu administration, particular those from Northern Nigeria, to be positive in their narrations.

“In the light of ongoing criticism, particularly from some quarters in Northern Nigeria, I urge critics to be positive in their narratives,” he said in the statement.

“I also call on citizens to remain steadfast in their support for the President and to reject divisive narratives.

“It is crucial for Nigerians to stand united behind Mr. President, who is diligently working hard to revitalise our economy through a series of effective policies, programmes, and reforms.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing a renewed commitment to the safety and well-being of all Nigerians, and I encourage everyone to recognise the positive changes taking place,” the minister said.

Highlighting the new tax reforms, Matawalle described them as pivotal elements in the country’s economic turnaround, emphasizing that the reforms were designed to create a more equitable tax system, which would enhance revenue generation for the government while easing the financial burden on ordinary citizens and small businesses.

“By broadening the tax base and ensuring that everyone pays their fair share, President Tinubu is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.

“These reforms will not only increase government revenues but also stimulate investment and job creation across various sectors,” Matawalle explained.

According to him, this will foster a more business-friendly environment, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, which are essential for driving economic progress.