Day: June 27, 2024

In response to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in some African countries following the 2024 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, Minister of Public Health Dr. Manaouda Malachie has announced strengthened border surveillance measures.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the minister outlined several preventive and control measures aimed at containing potential outbreaks in Cameroon, particularly in light of 5,500 Cameroonian pilgrims attending the event.

Key measures include the mandatory completion of identification forms for all international travelers arriving at airports, systematic testing of suspected cases, voluntary screening of travelers, and the prompt screening of suspected cases in hospital emergency departments. Additionally, all positive cases will receive free treatment.

These proactive steps come as many countries, whose citizens participated in the pilgrimage, grapple with rising COVID-19 cases. Saudi Arabia reported more than 1,300 deaths from heat-related illnesses during this y
ear’s Hajj due to extreme temperatures reaching up to 51.8 degrees Celsius at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Senegal, with 12,900 pilgrims, has confirmed COVID-19 cases among returning pilgrims, with 78 cases detected out of 124 tests conducted at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport.

Dr. Malachie urged Cameroonians to remain vigilant by continuing to practice preventive measures such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, practicing hand hygiene, and regularly disinfecting public spaces.

Since recording its first case on March 6, 2020, Cameroon has reported over 125,000 positive cases and 1,974 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The government’s proactive measures have been credited with successfully containing previous waves of the pandemic.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Lagos, Nigeria ( CNA) Nick Imudia, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s business community known for his roles as former CEO of Konga ( an online store) and leader in solar energy solutions, tragically ended his life on Tuesday night. The 54-year-old entrepreneur was found deceased outside his apartment in Lekki, Lagos, having jumped from the balcony.

Imudia, originally from Ika South local government area of Delta State, had a distinguished career marked by his tenure at Konga, one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms. More recently, he served as CEO of D.light, a pioneering company in residential solar energy solutions.

Before taking his life, Imudia reportedly contacted his brother based in the United States to outline instructions for the management of his estate. He also made a poignant call to his young daughter from a previous relationship, reassuring her of his eternal presence, telling her to look to the sky whenever she missed him.

The news of Imudia’s death has sent shockwaves through his circle
of friends, family, and business associates, who are struggling to understand the reasons behind his tragic decision. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death while the community mourns the loss of a visionary leader in Nigeria’s business landscape.

Imudia’s legacy as an innovator and leader in both e-commerce and renewable energy will be remembered by many, underscoring the importance of mental health awareness and support in high-pressure industries.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Reports coming out of Batibo in the Northwest Region indicate a deadly incident involving a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Two persons, Ndong Njong and Fomunyoh Charles Mbah, were confirmed dead, including the driver of the car whose legs were completely shattered.

What we know

One civilian fatality: Only one person is reported to have survived the IED detonation in Oshum village.

Targeted attack: Ambazonian fighters are alleged to have planted the IED on the highway, targeting a convoy that included two armored vehicles.

A civilian car hit: Detonation occurred prematurely, striking a civilian Toyota Corolla instead of the armored vehicles.

Extensive damage: The blast destroyed the Corolla to pieces.

Ndong Raphael who survived the incident, was administered first aid by a military medical doctor on the incident scene and taken to the Bali district hospital.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Addis Ababa: Telecom and Addis Ababa University have signed partnership agreement to implement Smart Campus project by establishing smart classrooms and other cutting edge solutions vital to learning activities.

Ethio-Telecom CEO, Frehiwot Tamiru and acting President of the Addis Ababa University, Samuel Kifle signed the agreement.

The agreement aims at ensuring education quality and inclusiveness; it was indicated on the occasion.

Enhancing access to educational materials and improving the conduct of laboratory testing by establishing smart classrooms is also the objective of the agreement.

Additionally, exams are administered in the smart classrooms, and results are promptly made public.

Installations of various infrastructures vital to the project will be carried out as part of the agreement to ensure the security of the Addis Ababa University Sidist Kilo campus.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is focusing on being self-reliant in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, according to Ministry of Health.

The local medical inputs manufacturing and innovation exhibition recently opened by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Millennium Hall has demonstrated Ethiopia’s encouraging activities to become self-reliant in the production of medical equipment and supplies.

Health State Minister, Frehiwot Abebe told ENA that the ministry is focused on creating a healthy citizenry by engaging in preventive-based curative practices across the country.

The state minister, who said that efforts have been underway to increase the share of local supply of medicine and medical equipment, added that this would also be a big leap toward creating jobs and foreign currency.

According to her, focusing on the development and production of local products will not only ensure economic sovereignty of the country but also help to extricate the nation from dependency in the sector.

She revealed that various
activities are being carried out in this regard in line with the directives set by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

ShieldVax Enterprise, a vaccine producing enterprise, is under construction to locally produce vaccines and replace exported vaccines, Frehiwot further disclosed.

Moreover, actions geared towards ensuring sustained national development in the health sector, and measures supporting local producers in the sector by assisting them to produce quality materials that replace imported items would be strengthened, the state minister added.

She further said ScinticaMed, a medical manufacturing company, has started producing ultrasound machines demonstrating that the nation is actively involved in producing medical equipment.

Recall that Health Minister, Dr. Mekedes Daba stated that activities have been underway to upscale the share of local pharmaceutical industries with 47 percent in accordance with the mid-term plan for development and investment in the health sector.

Ethiopia has already developed a sy
stem of supply of medical inputs, health and pharmaceutical polices to enable the country to become self-sufficient in the sector over time, the minister added.

The nation has managed to locally produce medicine supplies worth 75 million USD this Ethiopian fiscal year, enabling the government to save 53.1 million USD.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency