Tag: High

  • Anyone concealing family members exposed to Covid-19 will face action: Home Ministry

    Anyone concealing family members exposed to Covid-19 will face action: Home Ministry

    Anyone concealing family members exposed to Covid-19 will face action: Home Ministry 1

    KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry warned today that those who conceal family members who have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus clusters from the authorities will face stern action.

    Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said this latest action is to send out a clear and stern message to those who continue harbouring high-risk individuals who have been exposed.

    “We are into the second week of the movement control order (MCO) and this is our first warning,” he said at a press conference after a meeting with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and other police top brass at Bukit Aman this evening.

    “Those who know of family members who were exposed to the clusters, such as the Tabligh event, and have not disclosed this to us will face severe action. They should come forward and get themselves tested for the virus. We are not going to arrest them, we just want them to get tested.”

    When asked on action to be taken, Hamzah declined to elaborate but said: “When we do, the media can come and see for itself what action we take.”

    He said although the police have identified about 10,000 people who attended the tabligh even at a mosque in Sri Petaling, there are still an undetermined number of those who are yet to come forward.

    Hamzah said the authorities are focusing on the tabligh event cluster as those infected there make up more than 50% of the current recorded cases of the disease.

    The minister also warned those who stoke disarray among the races by associating the disease with any particular race.

    “The Covid-19 does not target a particular race, religion, position or social status. It can infect anyone. We also wish to warn those who post hurtful or sensitive comments that can cause chaos and disunity among the multi-races that we will take action on them as well. We as Malaysian must stand by each other regardless of race. We want to build and develop this nation together,“ he said.

    Hamzah said he also discussed with police ways to enhance enforcement of the MCO as there are still many who are defying the order.

    He said among the plans was to increase the number of roadblocks nationwide, adding that 3,125 people have been arrested for defying the MCO, of which 246 have been charged in court.

    Anyone concealing family members exposed to Covid-19 will face action: Home Ministry
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  • New WHO Guide to help countries expand access to essential medicines

    New WHO Guide to help countries expand access to essential medicines

    WHO’s   new user guide for countries, ‘Selection of medicines at country level’, is based on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. It sets out the key actions countries should undertake to develop and update their own
    national essential medicines lists based on the treatment needs of their populations and their capacity to reimburse payments for medicines.

    The document also aims to support countries in progressing towards universal health coverage. Today, approximately half of the world’s population is unable to  access essential medicines. The large majority of these people live in poorer countries,
    but rising prices of new medicines are also becoming a challenge for health systems in wealthy countries.

    A careful selection of essential medicines is the first step in ensuring a population can obtain the quality-assured medicines it needs at an affordable price.  Countries need to do more to ensure that all people and communities can access highly
    effective medicines. WHO’s new manual is a resource to do just that. 

    The document, intended for policy makers in charge of national medicines and reimbursement lists, aims to increase transparency on how essential medicines are selected. Most national lists of essential medicines have several differences when compared
    with WHO’s model list, which lists only medicines of proven safety and efficacy. Some national lists include medicines that bring little extra benefit to patients. Decision-makers should refer to the WHO global list to gauge the public health
    value of listing certain medicines for their populations.

    The essential medicines concept 

    Essential medicines are: 

    • those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population
    • selected with due regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness
    • intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and community can afford.  

    The essential medicines concept is global and forward-looking. It incorporates the need to regularly update medicines selections to reflect new therapeutic options and changing therapeutic needs; the need to ensure drug quality; and the need for continued
    development of better medicines, medicines for emerging diseases and medicines to meet changing resistance patterns.

    Achieving universal health coverage and equity in public health depends on access to essential, high-quality and affordable health related technologies for all. To achieve access for all by 2030, at least two billion more people will need to have access
    to essential health services by 2030.

    In an effort to make the Model List of Essential Medicines more readily accessible, WHO recently developed an electronic version of the list, bringing the traditional EML to computer screens, tablets and smartphones in a freely accessible, downloadable,
    online database.

    Link to manual: Selection of essential medicines at country level

    Link to e-EML: Model List of Essential Medicines

    New WHO Guide to help countries expand access to essential medicines
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  • WHO releases guidelines to help countries maintain essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

    WHO releases guidelines to help countries maintain essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

    The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems worldwide. The rapidly increasing demand on health facilities and health care workers threatens to leave some health systems overstretched and unable to operate effectively.

    Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that when health systems are overwhelmed, mortality from vaccine-preventable and other treatable conditions can also increase dramatically. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the increased number of deaths caused
    by measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis attributable to health system failures exceeded deaths from Ebola
    [1,2]. 

    “The best defense against any outbreak is a
    strong health system,” stressed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
    “COVID-19 is revealing how fragile many of the world’s health systems and
    services are, forcing countries to make difficult choices on how to best meet
    the needs of their people.”

    To help countries navigate through these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated operational planning guidelines in balancing the demands of responding directly to COVID-19 while maintaining essential health service delivery, and mitigating
    the risk of system collapse. This includes a set of targeted immediate actions that countries should consider at national, regional, and local level to reorganize and maintain access to high-quality essential health services for all.

    Countries should identify essential services that will be prioritized in their efforts to maintain continuity of service delivery and make strategic shifts to ensure that increasingly limited resources provide maximum benefit for the population. They
    also need to comply with the highest standard in precautions, especially in hygiene practices, and the provision of adequate supplies including personal protective equipment This requires robust planning and coordinated actions between governments
    and health facilities and their managers.

    Some examples of essential services include: routine vaccination; reproductive health services including care during pregnancy and childbirth; care of young infants and older adults; management of mental health conditions as well as noncommunicable diseases
    and infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and TB; critical inpatient therapies; management of emergency health conditions; auxiliary services like basic diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and blood bank services, among others.

    Well-organized and prepared health systems can continue to provide equitable access to essential service delivery throughout an emergency, limiting direct mortality and avoiding increased indirect mortality. 
     

    The guidelines stress the importance of keeping up-to-date information. This requires frequent transparent communications with the public, and strong community engagements so the public   can maintain trust in the system to safely meet their
    essential needs and to control infection risk in health facilities. This will help ensure that people continue to seek care when appropriate, and adhere to public health advice.


    1. Elston, J. W. T., Cartwright, C., Ndumbi, P., & Wright, J. (2017). The health impact of the 2014–15 Ebola outbreak. Public Health, 143, 60-70.

    2. Parpia, A. S., Ndeffo-Mbah, M. L., Wenzel, N. S., & Galvani, A. P. (2016). Effects of response to 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak on deaths from malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, West Africa. Emerging infectious diseases, 22(3), 433.

     

    For interviews please contact:  Tarik Jasarevic

    To access the full guidance please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/maintaining-essential-health-services-and-systems

    For further information and guidance on COVID-19 please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

     

     

    WHO releases guidelines to help countries maintain essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic
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  • World TB Day 2020 Newsletter

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter

    Latest news and updates from WHO

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter 2

    Dear colleagues and friends,

    World TB Day, this year, comes at a sobering time – as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. We stand in solidarity with those affected, those at the frontlines of the fight to combat COVID-19, as well as those who continue efforts to support
    those ill with longstanding health problems like TB, HIV and other diseases. However, we cannot forget the millions and their families who battle TB every day and lose their lives to this ancient disease – which remains the world’s top
    infectious killer.

    As eloquently emphasized by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his press briefing on COVID-19 yesterday, “I’d like to remind everyone that although COVID-19 is dominating the world’s attention-there is another respiratory
    disease that is both preventable and treatable, but kills 1.5 million people every year – that disease is tuberculosis”

    “It’s Time”, the focus for World TB Day this year is therefore on urgently accelerating the TB response to save lives and end suffering, even in times of crisis. This will be essential if we are to reach the targets and commitments made
    by Heads of State at the 2018 UN High Level Meeting on TB. 

    We have made important strides against the TB epidemic to date.

    We announced last year, that more people received life-saving treatment for tuberculosis in 2018 than ever before, largely due to improved detection and diagnosis. Globally, 7 million people were diagnosed and treated for TB – up from 6.4 million in 2017
    – enabling the world to meet one of the milestones towards the United Nations political declaration targets on TB and the WHO Director-General Flagship Initiative Find.Treat.All End TB jointly with Stop TB Partnership and the Global Fund. This
    has been a big win for the TB community.

    WHO is working with countries to roll out important guidelines, including a comprehensive package on TB preventive treatment released today, and updated MDR TB guidelines to promote the use of all-oral regimens for patients with drug-resistant TB which
    would be helpful – particularly at this point, when visiting health centers is a challenge. Furthermore, WHO has developed a note to guide and urge countries to ensure continuity of TB services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    We are strengthening our collaboration with civil society – more information is highlighted in the WHO Civil Society Taskforce Progress Review released today.

    Youth mobilization is being ramped up through the WHO 1+1 Youth Initiative to end TB and the Global Youth Declaration to End TB. Multisectoral accountability is being promoted in countries through our framework and we have finalized a new global strategy
    on TB research and innovation, that will be reviewed by the World Health Assembly.

    Yet, the gains we have made are at risk – if there is any slackening of commitment and action, especially in times of crisis.

    We are at a crossroads and we need to unite forces to take the path of success that will save lives and end suffering.

    I was especially heartened today, to see the TB community coming together like never before. We all took our events to the virtual realm due to COVID-19 lockdowns. The WHO Online Talk Show held this afternoon, had a powerful line up of speakers that included,
    TB survivors and advocates, civil society, high level government representatives, heads of agencies, researchers and partners. As of this evening we have surpassed 10,000 views on YouTube. I also participated in townhalls organized by Stop TB Partnership.
    Our joint efforts have indeed ensured a continuing spotlight on those affected by TB, and clearly shows that no matter what the barrier, we can surpass it if we work together.

    I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you all virtually – and recommit to champion End TB efforts till we reach the finish line.

    It’s time to deliver on our promises and ensure no one is left behind.

    It’s time to End TB!

    Dr Tereza Kasaeva
    Director
    Global TB Programme
    World Health Organization


    World TB Day Talk Show

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter 3

    In the backdrop of the global battle against COVID-19, WHO organized a special online talk show to mark World TB Day 2020. The talk show had a powerful line up of speakers from among TB survivors and advocates, civil society, high-level government representatives,
    heads of agencies, researchers and partners. The video was streamed live on WHO’s Youtube channel crossing over 10,000 views in a few hours. Watch the talk show video


    Spotlight on TB Preventive Treatment

    New WHO recommendations to prevent tuberculosis aim to save millions of lives

    24 March 2020 News release

    Geneva –  New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance will help countries accelerate efforts to stop people with tuberculosis (TB) infection becoming sick with TB by giving them preventive treatment. A quarter of the world‘s population
    is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria. These people are neither sick nor contagious. However, they are at greater risk of developing TB disease, especially those with weakened immunity. Offering them TB preventive treatment will not only protect
    them from becoming sick but also cut down on the risk of transmission in the community. Read more

    The full package is available below and at our World TB Day Campaign Page


    WHO Civil Society Taskforce on TB: Progress Review

    The WHO Civil Society Taskforce provides a platform for meaningful engagement of civil society, building on the commitment of the Director-General, with emphasis on harnessing the untapped potential in engagement with civil society and affected communities
    al all levels. To mark World TB Day 2020, the Task Force has released a Progress Review highlighting key achievements since its formation in 2018.

    Access link here


    WHO eTB guidelines: A digital platform to promote adolopment of TB recommendations

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter 4

    WHO Global TB Programme / McMaster University

    The WHO Global Tuberculosis (TB) Programme, in collaboration with McMaster University, Canada, is developing a smart platform to improve access to and use of all WHO recommendations on TB prevention and care. The WHO eTB guidelines platform will facilitate
    the adoption, adaptation and implementation (“adolopment”) by countries of recommendations across the continuum of care. This digital platform will provide a variety of users – TB programme managers, healthcare workers including
    nurses, researchers, patients and affected communities – with easy access to all essential information about WHO-s current policy guidance on TB.

    The first set of recommendations on TB preventive treatment were released on this new platform on World TB Day.

    WHO eTB guidelines platform

    Infographic


    TB and COVID-19

    24 March 2020 News release

    Geneva –  As the world comes together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to ensure that essential health services and operations are continued to protect the lives of people with TB and other diseases or health conditions. Health services,
    including national programmes to combat TB, need to be actively engaged in ensuring an effective and rapid response to COVID-19 while ensuring that TB services are maintained. Read more


    Let’s never forget: It’s time to end TB

    Ksenia Schenina

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter 5

    Ksenia Schenina

    24 March 2020 Photo story

    On World TB Day 2020, the theme – “Its time” – stresses the urgency to end the TB epidemic. TB survivor and advocate, Ksenia Schenina, talks about her struggle with the disease, the persistence of stigma and the role that remembrance can play
    in fighting it.   Through her TB memorial project, she aims to remember those who passed away from this terrible and ancient disease. “We do it to show what kind of people they were – what kind of things they liked, what kind of music
    they listened to and what their favorite movies were; if they liked fishing or dreamt of a flight to space,” she says. Read more


    Commentary

    To end TB, we must invest in research and innovation

    24 March 2020 Commentary

    If the world is to get anywhere near ending TB, a disease that killed more than 1.5 million people in 2018, something significant needs to change.

    TB remains the world’s leading infectious killer and yet, in the last 50 years, only three new drugs and regimes have been developed to combat the disease. “What we need is more research and more tools in the pipeline; better diagnostics,
    more effective vaccines, and safer, shorter drug regimes,” explains Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Programme. Read more


    Emily: A Day in the Life of a TB Nurse

    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter 6

    Maria Emily C. Ballesteros

    Watch this story of Emily, a nurse managing the tuberculosis (TB) program of the City Health Office in Tuguegarao City. Her dream for Tuguegarao is to one day see zero TB cases and that no one dies from this infectious disease. Nurses and healthcare workers
    play a critical role in TB prevention and care. It’s time to invest in them to improve healthcare for all. We thank all the nurses, midwives and healthcare workers working to #EndTB! Watch the video


    Updates and messages

    New research tool supports scale-up of digital technologies to End TB

    24 March 2020 TDR news item

    National anti-tuberculosis efforts are increasingly involving digital technologies, such as mobile applications to support treatment adherence and electronic surveillance systems that enable real-time monitoring of a country’s TB situation. Read more

    World TB Day 2020: It’s Time for solidarity

    24 March 2020 HIV/TB news item

    At this unique time in history when the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes stands in solidarity with governments and communities as they seek to maintain health services
    and continue to address the needs of patients suffering from HIV and tuberculosis (TB).  Read more

    New, shorter treatment to prevent TB to be rolled out in five high TB burden countries

    24 March 2020 news item

    Three-month regimen expected to prevent TB in those at highest risk of developing the disease, including people living with HIV and children under the age of five
    Today, the Aurum Institute and its partners, as part of the IMPAACT4TB project, announced that five high-burden TB countries will roll out a new, shorter drug regimen (known as 3HP) to prevent TB. The announcement comes as countries around the world mark World TB Day, which takes place every year on March 24th. Countries that will initially provide the new regimen with funding from Unitaid, U.S. PEPFAR and the Global Fund include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. More than 120,000 patient courses of 3HP will be delivered by the project to 12 countries in 2020. An additional 1 million patient courses are expected to reach low- and middle-income countries by the end of the year, through the combined support of Unitaid, Global Fund, the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) and PEPFAR. Read more
    World TB Day 2020 Newsletter
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  • Nigeria Records Second Coronavirus Death

    Nigeria Records Second Coronavirus Death

    Nigeria Records Second Coronavirus Death 7

    Nigeria Records Second Coronavirus Death 8


     

    A second person in Nigeria has died from Coronavirus, SaharaReporters can confirm.

    The victim is said to have died at Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital around 9:00pm on Sunday.

    Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, confirmed the incident on Monday.

    Ehanire said the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had serious underlying health issues.

    He said, “Majority of them are persons who came from overseas and the others have been traced as close contacts of such returnees.

    “The high number of imported cases in Lagos and Abuja is directly due to their function as the country gateway for air travels.

    “Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatments but sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.”

    The latest incident comes one week after a former Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, Suleiman Achimugu, died of the virus.

     

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  • Simpang Renggam sample gathering task possibly over within 10 days: MOH

    Simpang Renggam sample gathering task possibly over within 10 days: MOH

    Simpang Renggam sample gathering task possibly over within 10 days: MOH 9

    PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) expects to gather all samples from the two Covid-19 affected areas in Simpang Renggam, Johor now under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) within 10 days.

    Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said MOH was now collecting an average of 300 samples daily, especially from the targetted high-risk group.

    “There are 3,000 residents in both the villages, so we expect to complete the task within 10 days.

    “The (ministry) team has been going house to house to make sure we detect the targetted high-risk group. We will conduct sample testing on this group even if they do not show symptoms,” he said at the daily media briefing on Covid-19, here today.

    Dr Noor Hisham was responding to questions on developments with regard to the sample-gathering exercise in Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim in Simpang Renggam that commenced last Friday.

    In another development, Dr Noor Hisham said to date, a total of 18,271 Covid-19 screenings had been done on the Sri Petaling mosque tabligh cluster.

    “Of these, 14,111 samples were taken, with 1,290 testing positive, 8,083 negative while results of another 4,738 are pending.

    The MOH has also advised that any distribution of food items by non-governmental organisations (NGO) must adhere to regulations and standard operating procedures of the National Security Council (MKN) as such matters were not under the MOH’s purview.

    “We have to comply as right now, the Movement Control Order (MCO) is in force, so there are risks for the NGOs when they are on the ground, especially when there is close contact.”

    “Their actions are well-intended but the MCO must be enforced strictly,” Dr Noor Hisham said when replying to questions on guidelines that should be taken by NGOs when distributing food items to frontliners. – Bernama

    Simpang Renggam sample gathering task possibly over within 10 days: MOH
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  • Work together, practise social discipline to curb Covid-19: Health DG

    Work together, practise social discipline to curb Covid-19: Health DG

    Work together, practise social discipline to curb Covid-19: Health DG 10

    PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians must work together and practise social discipline in order to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

    He said that in the past two weeks Malaysia had recorded around 150 to 200 positive Covid-19 cases daily and the Ministry of Health (MOH) had been monitoring the trend closely to ensure there is no exponential spike.

    “Now we have completed two weeks, so another two weeks to go. It is up to us and if all of us come together and we practise and embrace (the advice) that you stay at home, and we, MOH, will continue our public health activity like active case detection, increase testing, finding targeted groups and isolate them early, then we can actually break the chain of Covid-19 transmission in this country.

    “So the next two weeks is all up to you and me; if we can all have a social discipline, I am sure that we can actually flatten the curve to avoid the exponential spike. If not, we may see a surge in Covid-19 positive cases in mid-April like (that) predicted by JP Morgan and the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research,“ he said at a press conference on Covid-19, here today.

    Dr Noor Hisham said that thanks to MOH’s active case detection, Malaysia had not recorded any exponential spike like 900 to 1,000 cases in one day.

    “That means we continue to go to the community identified as a high-risk group through targeted approach and then test them. There will be some cases that will be detected as positive; our detection of positives is about 8%,“ he said.

    Dr Noor Hisham also urged all Malaysians returning from overseas to home-quarantine for 14 days.

    “We fear that the second wave is all imported cases. Malaysians coming back from overseas, that is the group that we are worried about as we fear they may bring back the Covid-19.

    “Although they are negative, we still have to quarantine them for 14 days. Those positive we isolate them in our hospitals,“ he said.

    He said MOH was aware that some Malaysians who returned from overseas broke the home quarantine rule.

    When asked about the possibility of the MCO being extended until Ramadan, he said it was too early to make any conclusions now.

    “We will only know after the first week of April. If we continue to flatten the curve or there is no exponential increase, then I think we can safely make a decision.

    “In terms of the Ramadan bazaars, they need to follow MOH standard operating procedure or guideline and have to take all precautionary measures to break the Covid-19 infection chain,” he added.

    Asked on calls for the imposition of Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in red zones, he said this would be done if there is a rapid increase in positive cases in these areas.

    The government enforced the EMCO in the area from Batu 21 to Batu 24 Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat, Selangor, yesterday, the second area to be placed under such restrictions after Simpang Renggam, Johor where Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid were subjected to similar curbs for 14 days beginning Friday. – Bernama

    Work together, practise social discipline to curb Covid-19: Health DG
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  • 156 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, tally now 2,626: Health DG (Updated)

    156 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, tally now 2,626: Health DG (Updated)

    156 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, tally now 2,626: Health DG (Updated) 11

    PETALING JAYA: There were 156 new Covid-19 cases, with three deaths recorded at noon today, which brings the total number of infected and deceased cases to 2,626 and 37, respectively.

    “To date, (out of the 2,626 new cases), 94 are being treated in intensive care and of these, 62 cases require breathing assistance,” Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement.

    He also noted that the country saw a record number of 91 patients having recovered and discharged in one day. This brings the number of those who have recovered to 479.

    There was no drastic increase of Covid-19 cases here so far.

    He explained that recording 150 to 200 cases a day is considered stable and attributes the number to active case inspections according to the ministry.

    “We have been observing cases closely and have compared the figures to other countries, to which we can say there has been no significant increase so far.”

    “What we fear is a sudden surge of between 900 to 1,000 cases in a day,“ he said.

    Hisham also shared that the Health Ministry has managed to increase the number of hospitals providing Covid-19 screening services across the nation, from 57 to 70 hospitals.

    The number of hospitals equipped to treat Covid-19 cases has also been increased from 26 to 38, thanks to cooperation from the Malaysian Armed Forces and the University of Malaya University Medical Center.

    “Seven of these hospitals are specialised in treating Covid-19 patients,” he said.

    Of the three fatalities, the 35th victim was a 57-year-old woman with a history of diabetes who had travelled to Indonesia. She was treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

    Case 36 was a 47-year-old Malaysian, treated at the Sarawak General Hospital on March 23.

    Case 37 was A 46-year-old female. She had a history of high blood pressure and an autoimmune disease. She was hospitalised at the Miri Hospital in Sarawak.

    156 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, tally now 2,626: Health DG (Updated)
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  • Disinfection exercise conducted at Johor Covid-19 red zone areas

    Disinfection exercise conducted at Johor Covid-19 red zone areas

    Disinfection exercise conducted at Johor Covid-19 red zone areas 12

    JOHOR BARU: The Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) today conducted disinfection operations at two red zone areas namely Kampung Sinaran Baru, Kempas, near here, and Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid in Simpang Renggam, near Kluang.

    Its director Datuk Yahaya Madis said various agencies including 27 police personnel, 22 People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) volunteers, 10 Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) employees and 35 SWM Enviroment staff participated in the exercise.

    According to him, the disinfectants were sprayed on the village lanes using vehicles, adding that the vehicles did not enter the premises area.

    “The disinfectant spraying was carried out by SWCorp and SWM Enviroment while JBPM was tasked with the decontamination process. PDRM and Rela took care of security control,“ he said when met after the operation at Kampung Sinaran Baru, here today.

    “I hope the villagers will cooperate and will not go out (during the Movement Control Order). Stay away from the prohibited areas. We will make sure the areas where they get their essentials goods are safe and sanitized,“ he said.

    He added that the areas to be disinfected were selected based on needs and information received from the district officers and district health offices.

    Both villages had recorded relatively high number of Covid-19 infection cases. – Bernama

    Disinfection exercise conducted at Johor Covid-19 red zone areas
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  • HEDA Tells Nigerian Government To Stop Harassment Of Sowore

    HEDA Tells Nigerian Government To Stop Harassment Of Sowore

    HEDA Tells Nigerian Government To Stop Harassment Of Sowore 13

    HEDA Tells Nigerian Government To Stop Harassment Of Sowore 14


     

    The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has asked the Nigerian Government to stop the harassment and intimidation of SaharaReporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

    The group said Sowore was kept in detention amidst a rash of court orders — none of which guaranteed his freedom in recent past. 

    It said there were concerns in the human rights circle that in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Sowore’s life may be at risk.

    Recall that Sowore had raised the alarm over plans by the authorities to rearrest him to a military barracks where he alleged he would be tortured and infected with COVID-19.

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    Sowore said he had written through his lawyers to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to inform him of plots by the Nigerian Army to detain him for revealing “classified information on SaharaReporters”.

    SaharaReporters had reported that Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, tested positive for Coronavirus. 

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    HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the organisation was worried about the fate of Sowore in the light of growing lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 spread. 

    Suraju said the group was also touched by the recent outcry from Sowore over alleged plans to endanger his life.

    Suraju said, “The Federal Government can better guarantee protection for Sowore and other citizens by issuing a stern and clear warning to officials of government to refrain from any form of political or unwarranted arrest of citizens under the current situation.

    “At this period of COVID-19 pandemic, this is a difficult moment for Nigerians who are free. For those in detention, their ordeal will multiply.

    “They fall into the category of those that would have been vulnerable if in detention. We are worried about precautions taken by the government to protect Sowore and other citizens from repressive actions of government officials.”

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    SaharaReporters, New York

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    HEDA Tells Nigerian Government To Stop Harassment Of Sowore
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