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WHO Approves Two New Medicines For Ebola Treatment

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended two medicines for the treatment of Ebola virus disease, following successes in clinical trials.

In its new guidelines for Ebola, the global public health body said monoclonal antibodies mAb114 (known as Ansuvimab or Ebanga) and REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb) have demonstrated clear benefits for people who have tested positive for Ebola.

This includes older persons, pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and newborns whose mothers were confirmed to have Ebola within the first seven days after birth.

The clinical trials were conducted during Ebola outbreaks.

WHO said the largest trial was carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, demonstrating that the highest level of scientific rigour can be applied even during Ebola outbreaks in difficult contexts.

The UN agency also provided recommendations regarding therapeutics that should not be used as treatments, which include ZMapp and remdesivir.

The new guidance, published simultaneously in English and French, will support healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and policymakers involved in outbreak preparedness and response.

The clinical trials were conducted during Ebola outbreaks.

WHO said the largest trial was carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, demonstrating that the highest level of scientific rigour can be applied even during Ebola outbreaks in difficult contexts.

The UN agency also provided recommendations regarding therapeutics that should not be used as treatments, which include ZMapp and remdesivir.

The new guidance, published simultaneously in English and French, will support healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and policymakers involved in outbreak preparedness and response.

It complements clinical care guidance that outlines the optimised supportive care that Ebola patients should receive – from the relevant tests to administer to managing pain, nutrition and co-infections, and other approaches that put patients on the best path to recovery.

“This therapeutic guide is a critical tool to fight Ebola,” said Dr Richard Kojan, co-chair of the expert group selected by WHO to develop the guidelines, and president of ALIMA, The Alliance for International Medical Action.

“As with other infectious diseases, timeliness is key, and people should not hesitate to consult health workers as quickly as possible to ensure they receive the best care possible.”

Fellow co-chair Robert Fowler from the University of Toronto in Canada noted that Ebola used to be perceived as “a near certain killer,” but advances in care and therapeutics over the past decade have revolutionised the treatment of the disease.

“Provision of best supportive medical care to patients, combined with monoclonal antibody treatment – MAb114 or REGN-EB3 – now leads to recovery for the vast majority of people,” he added.

As access to these treatments remains challenging, especially in poor areas, WHO said they should be available where they are most needed, namely in locations where active Ebola outbreaks are occurring or where the threat of an outbreak is high or very likely.

“We have seen incredible advances in both the quality and safety of clinical care during Ebola outbreaks,” said Janet Diaz, lead of the clinical management unit in WHO’s Health Emergencies programme.”

(NAN)

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General

Your Criticism Of Governor Ademola Adeleke On Health Is Affront On Common Sense, Osun PDP Tells APC

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The Osun State PDP has asked the the APC to busy themselves with substance engagement of the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke instead of frivolities and idle talks reminiscent of a confused, gasping opposition.

Osun PDP Chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi, condemned attempt by the APC to distract attention of Nigerians from the import of Governor Ademola Adeleke in his address delivered by the Special Adviser On Public Health, Dr Akindele Adekunle at the annual symposium organized by the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

While His Excellency was admonishing the Surgeons to join hands with the government at all levels and across the states of the federation, to address what is fast becoming a national emergency of mass emigration in the health sector, the APC minnows were quick to infuse their ‘one corner politics’ into such critical issue.

Governor Adeleke in essence, was laying credence to his workable interventions in the health sector by providing a conducive working environment for doctors and other health practitioners with a view to motivating them to stay on their job in the country and not just Osun State. Attendence at the symposium was well beyond conceptual sphere of Osun State and even Nigeria and one wonders how it was so difficult for the APC to understand this.

The state APC wanderers are advised to limit themselves to their hand to mouth politics and not poke near frank and productive interaction that is strange to their anti-people DNA.

APC record in the health sector in the state was not only terrible but frightening. Many consultants and doctors in critical departments in the state health facilities, who have left their job by force of resignation or death were never replaced. All entreaties made to them by these doctors to look into their deteriorating working conditions were rebuffed throughout their inglorious reign in the state.

Today, doctors in the state owned Uniosun Teaching Hospital and other health facilities are now being treated with dignity they deserve. The Residency Training Allowance hitherto forbidden by the APC has already been approved for the doctors amongst many other frantic efforts of Governor Ademola Adeleke to turn around the all important sector.

It is therefore strange that APC would conjure some filthy guts to criticize efforts of Governor Ademola Adeleke in addressing the mess piled up by the APC in this regard for several years. That to us was nothing but affront on common sense.

The good people of the state must note that the PDP government of Governor Ademola Adeleke has and will not sack any personnel in the state health sector. Those placed on hold were the knee jerking haphazard and wishy-washy trappings set by the teary government of yesterday.

A government that needed to wait till it got hammered by the electorate in the state couldn’t have had any other intentions than to destroy the state with all sorts of wee hours, vengeful decisions, which the new government had to reverse for a fraud proof and desperation free process.

Signed.

Hon Sunday Bisi

Osun State PDP Chairman.

28/09/2023

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Football

‘We’ll have to assess him’ – Mikel Arteta gives verdict on Declan Rice injury

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that Declan Rice’s injury needs to be “assessed” after he was substituted at half-time against Tottenham.

The England international had to be replaced by Jorginho at half-time in the north London derby where the spoils were shared between the two teams after a 2-2 draw. Rice emerged with a bandage on his left calf as he made his way onto the bench in the second half and now Arteta has confirmed that the player has indeed picked up a knock and will require further assessment.

“He had some discomfort in his back and was telling us during the first half he was uncomfortable,” Arteta told reporters after the match.

When further pressed if Rice was out for short or medium term, he said: “Hopefully not [out for long]. We have to assess him. It’s strange when a player like him asks to come off because he’s uncomfortable. Hopefully not, but let’s see.”

Rice has been an integral part of Arteta’s plans since his arrival for West Ham for a reported fee of around £105m ($137m). He had a busy 45 minutes against Tottenham as well until he had to be subbed off due to discomfort.

Rice will undergo tests in the next few days to determine the extent of the injury. The results will determine if he will be available when the Gunners travel to Brentford for an EFL Cup third-round clash on Wednesday evening

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Kwara State moves to produce own brand of antimalaria tablets, suspension ‘KWAMAL’

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The Kwara State Hospital Management Board has announced its move to commence the production of its own brand of antimalaria tablets and suspension ‘KWAMAL’.

“We have been working very hard to make this project a reality. We see a bright light at the end of the tunnel for our dear state to have its brand of pharmaceuticals,” a statement jointly signed by the Press Secretary and Assistant Press Secretary of the Board, Zulu-Gambari Halimat and Okanlawon Ramat, said.

The statement quoted the Executive Secretary of KW-HMB, Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, as saying that the objective of the project is to make quality healthcare affordable to the people of Kwara State in line with the vision of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“With the support and encouragement of His Excellency and all other stakeholders, the Hospital Management Board will make this ambitious project a reality.

“This will reduce part of the capital flight Kwara State is presently experiencing in the pharmaceutical market and jobs will be created all over Nigeria since we plan to distribute nationwide so as to attract capital into our state. We want to put Kwara State in every household in Nigeria,” the Executive Secretary said.

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