South Africa begins its COVID-19 vaccination programme with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after  receiving 80,000 doses of the vaccine on Tuesday.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize were the first to be given the single dose vaccine along with healthcare workers as part of observational study to kick off the vaccination campaign.

In a bid to dissipate fears amongst South Africans sceptical about the spread of all misinformation on the vaccine, President Ramaphosa indicated that, “This day marks a milestone for South Africa. Finally, the vaccines are here, and they are being administered,” he said shortly after receiving the vaccine.

Besides, Ramaphosa urged healthcare workers to get the vaccine, “taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful. I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defence against the coronavirus pandemic.” He added.

South Africa which is Africa’s worst-hit country was due to start its vaccine rollout last week after receiving early in February, one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India. But, the vaccination campaign was delayed  following a study that showed ineffective results against the country's new Covid-19 variant.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will therefore be administered to 100,000 people first, in order to observe its possible sides effects, before spreading the vaccine to the entire nation. However, the country have secured nine million doses in total and more doses are expected according to President Ramaphosa.

Besides , South African officials say the country has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of March. The goal is by the end of the year to have immunised 40 million people, or  67 percent of the population.

The single-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson is the first to be used outside a clinical trial and is not yet approved for general use anywhere in the world. However, the vaccine has been shown to offer 57 percent protection against moderate to severe COVID-19 infections caused by a more transmissible new variant.

“Apart from bilateral deals with manufacturers, South Africa is sourcing its vaccines from the World Health Organization-backed Covax scheme, as well as through an African Union programme”, quoted from BBC

Covax is a global initiative in which countries pool their resources to support the development of vaccines with a view to ensure that all countries receive a fair supply of effective vaccines. 

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-18

 The  Director General of  the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, insisted  that the AstraZeneca vaccine was still a vital tool in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, after South Africa delayed the start of its inoculation program over concerns about the drug's efficacy against a virus variant.

He made this remark during a press briefing  on Monday, September 08, 2021

South Africa earlier announced it was putting a temporary hold on the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed it was minimally effective at preventing mild to moderate disease caused by a variant first identified in the Country.

This was after a South African study suggesting that the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against a local variant of the virus.

However, Dr Ghebreyesus specified that, “Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is one of several that has been shown to be effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.”

The Head of WHO, said data used in the study was from a “limité sample size” and the participants were “younger and healthier”.

However, experts are hopeful that the vaccine will still be effective at preventing severe cases. “t is important to determine whether or not the vaccine remains effective in preventing more severe illness,” he said in a statement.

It is worth noting that, research carried out that the Oxford vaccine offers good protection against the Kent variant of coronavirus circulating more widely in the United Kingdom, UK.

UK scientists found out that a single dose of the vaccine offered 76% effective protection against coronavirus for three months. The vaccine is given as two doses to provide the best protection.

Besides, they are working on new versions of the vaccine, to keep up with a virus that will inevitably keep mutating.

By Fabiola Kemegni

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-09

The Congolese Minister of Public Health, Dr. Eteni Longondo announced on Wednesday, November 18, the end of the 11th Ebola epidemic that has killed about 55 peoples in North-west Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

The 11th Ebola epidemic began  early June, and has caused 130 Ebola cases and 55 death. However, the epidemic lasted five months before  it was contained. It comes clear that, the main challenges in containing the disease was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by the spread of Ebola cases in remote areas in dense rain forests.

According to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in DRC, David McLachlan-Karr,  the engagement of communities had made it possible to stop the outbreak immediately with a better medical response, especially concerning drugs and vaccines. He equally congratulated the government and health partners on ending the outbreak of the  disease.

Besides, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti added that, “Overcoming one of the world’s most dangerous pathogens in remote and hard to access communities demonstrates what is possible when science and solidarity come together,”  she said.

 On his part, the Director General of the World Health Organisation, WHO,  Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed hope toward the good news as he wrote in a tweet  that, “This great achievement shows that together we can overcome any health challenge.”

However, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, is planning to work with the local health authorities in Equateur to ensure that mothers and children in the areas previously affected by Ebola continue to receive quality essential health care. This includes improving water and sanitation in health centres, promoting hygiene practices in affected communities, provide psychosocial support to Ebola survivors, as well as children affected by the epidemic.

“Though the outbreak is over, children affected by the Ebola epidemic will still require special attention and care, as communities affected begin to return to normal life,” Edouard Beigbeder, the  UNICEF Representative in the DRC stated.

The previous Ebola outbreak in the Equateur Province in DCR, was the deadliest and longest in the country,  with a fatality rate of 66%. The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 and the worst outbreak on record hit West Africa in 2014-2016. Although that outbreak killed more than 10,000 people, it also gave rise to the development of a highly effective vaccine and several treatments for Ebola virus disease.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2020-11-19

Guinea’s health agency reported on Monday that, at least five people have died of Ebola virus in Guinea, as the government and aid groups began to roll out their response to the outbreak. 

The Government announced the Ebola outbreak on Sunday, February 14 as the first case in West Africa since a 2013-2016 epidemic that left more than 11,300 dead in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The resurgence in Guinea started after the funeral of a nurse who was buried in country’s southeast on February 1. Authorities said seven people who took part in the funeral fell ill and tested positive for the Ebola virus. Four have died, while four others are in isolation.

The lady in question, considered as the first confirmed victim was a 51-year-old nurse, who died in late January. She  was from Nzerekore near the town of Gouecke in the forested south of the country.

Health official said two of the nurse's brothers who attended her funeral on February 1 have equally died.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana urges Guineans to stay calm since  all have been “set up structures to deal with this type of epidemic”.

“No panic, let’s respect the sanitary instructions. Ebola will be defeated again,” he tweeted.

On his part, Health Minister Remy Lamah said on Monday that, Guinea had adequate  means to stop the resurgence of the virus.

“In 2013, it took us months to understand that we were dealing with an Ebola epidemic while this time, in less than four days, we were able to do analysis and have the results,” Lamah said.

“Our medical teams are trained and seasoned. We have the means to quickly overcome this disease.” He added

International organisations  including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and medical charity, said they were sending rapid response teams to the region to assist Guinea.

However, the first flight carrying experts and sanitary equipment arrived in Nzerekore on Monday, according to UN's Guinea office.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-16

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of public health announced the outbreak of a new Ebola virus case in the Eastern part of the country near the city of Butembo on Sunday.

 health authorities revealed on Sunday that, a woman was found with Ebola virus symptoms in the city of Biena town on February 1 and she lady later died from the virus days after.

 A statement published by  health authorities of the country indicated that they have already sent a response to the area.

“The provincial response team is already hard at work. It will be supported by the national response team which will visit Butembo shortly, ” the statement said.

This will therefore mark the the 12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since it's first discovery in 1976 near Ebola River.

However, the latest Ebola case occurred on June 01 2020, while the country was still responding to the corona virus  outbreak. Besides, it occured  some few weeks before the government had declared the end of the 10th Ebola virus outbreak.

By

Absan Bibou Health & Environment 2021-02-08

Cameroon administrative authorities detected at least 24 COVID-19 cases in three schools in the city of Douala last Monday, November 09, 2020, during a visit carried out by the Governor of the Littoral region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboa.

During the governors visit, the school officials noticed that several students in the three schools namely, Nal Bilingual College in Bangue, College Du Vaal and College Saint Charles Barrommee, had a high temperature and were ordered to go for COVID-19 screenings.

The identified students including a teacher who was equally tested positive, were taken to the hospital where they are actually receiving medical attention. Besides, the Ministry of Public Health transferred other suspected cases to isolation centers.

According to Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha, the infection rate of COVID-19 in the littoral region has risen from two to five percent.

However, since the resumption of school on October 05, 2020, the Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachi called on school authorities as well as students to thoroughly respect the COVID-19 barrier measures prescribed by the government.

Besides, these instructions have been reminded several times after 318 new cases and four deaths were registered last week. This therefore brings the infection rate to 22,421 cases with 21,510 recovered patients and 433 deaths registered since its outbreak on March.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2020-11-11

The  World Health Organisation, have sent  a rapid response team to provide support  needed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, after a new case of Ebola virus was reported on February 1 near the city of Butembo.

The General Director of the  WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made this announcement during a press briefing  on February 08, 2021.

According to him, More than 70 contacts with the deadly virus have been identified, and WHO is supporting local and national authorities to trace them and provide care where needed.

“So far, no other cases have been identified, but it is possible there will be further cases because the woman had contact with many people after she became symptomatic” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

He equally  specified that Vaccines have been sent to DRC in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in the area. “Vaccines are being sent to the area and we hope that vaccination will start as soon as possible”. He added.

Health authorities revealed on Sunday that, a woman was found with Ebola virus symptoms in the city of Biena town on February 1 and she lady later died from the virus two days after.

 This marks the  12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since its first discovery in 1976 near Ebola River.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-09

The Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED, alongside its partners have officially launch the BIODEV2030 project aimed at safeguarding world’s biodiversity via a multi-stakeholder approach.

The launching ceremony took place November 12, in Yaounde, in the presence of the representatives of the French Development Agency, AFD, the World Wide Fund, WWF and Expertise France.

Within a context marked by a 68% decline in biodiversity around the globe between 1970 and 2016, the planet will experience a lost of over one million plants and animal species threatened with extinction over the next decade if nothing is being done.

Thus, the BIODEV2030 Project that is funded by the French Development Agency, coordinated by Expertise France, facilitated by the World Wide Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature will however be implemented by the 16 African countries of which Cameroon is a member.

The project that is financed at €10 million for all the 16 countries concerned will have contribution from the sectoral administrations in a bid to reverse the decline of this biodiversity by 2030 and fully restoring it come 2050.

In order to attain this, the process irreversibly requires an international dialogue between all major stakeholders of the 16 pilot countries to exchange experiences on good practices to support the various states in integrating biodiversity into their sustainable development paths.

Therefore, there is need to bend the curve of biodiversity by 2030 given that it was ranked amongst the first-five threats to the world. However, more than 50 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, is greatly dependent on the ecosystem, reason for advocating for a healthier ecosystem.

It was revealed that, 20 percent of countries in the world are at high risk of collapsing should the ecosystem collapses. This will go a long way to affecting the world’s economy and wealth.

According to Gilles Etoga, Acting Conservation Director of WWF Cameroon, there are three approaches to attaining biodiversity ambition by 2030, which are the global strategies behind the BIODEV2030 project. “The first one is the diagnostic, the second if dialogue and the third one is dissemination. Why do we need to make a diagnostic? Because we want to collect scientific data that prove and that will support our campaign on the 2030 biodiversity programme.”

He added that, “we are guessing for the moment the sector that is impacting most the biodiversity but we need to have scientific data to sustain it so that, when we will discuss and engage on the second step which is dialogue, we should come to the table with scientific prices at hand.”

Also, Gilles Etoga said with respect to the third step, they will probably have a common understanding and agreement on how to tackle biodiversity laws in a way that the curve will be bent by 2030. To him, they will equally disseminate the results gotten from the dialogue during the third step.

On his part, Nana Aboubakar Diallo, Minister Delegate at the MINEPDED highlighted that, the ever degrading ecosystem is due to excess exploitation of natural resources which is accentuated by climate change and diverse pollutions, reason why efforts need to doubled with regards to preserving a healthy biodiversity.

“This project requires the integration of biodiversity in the economic and social projects of our country and others so as to conciliate the protection of biodiversity, nature protection and development because development is indispensable,” said the Minister Delegate.

That said, the global objective of the project launched in Cameroon’s capital city Yaounde is to assist the government in identifying stakeholders either from the private sector or Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, so as to establish a platform for dialogue for all actors concerned in the protection of the biodiversity, nature protection with the aim to conciliator economic and social development.

Key activities to be implemented by the project include; assessing the threats to biodiversity at the national level and estimating potential threat reduction measures of at least two key economic sectors in Cameroon. The project will facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to share a common vision and set voluntary commitments involving key economic sectors, to support national commitments for the Post-2020 Agenda for a more ambitious global biodiversity framework.

Lessons from the project will be disseminated through experience sharing and discussions at international forums such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille (France) and at Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 in 2021.

The project is being launched at a time biodiversity is facing serious threats. According to WWF 2020 Living Report, stopping biodiversity decline and preserving ecosystems are urgently needed if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2050. BIODEV2030

By

Annie Odounlami Health & Environment 2020-11-24

The Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk has averred that, the COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake up call for Africa's oil and gas industry and that radical environmental extremism poses a danger to Africa's growth and the fight to address energy poverty . We must resist the idea that Africa needs to rely on foreign aid to accelerate its growth.

Today, the economic winds are at our backs. There is so much we can do this year and beyond to make Africa more prosperous and hopeful — and this time, for everyone. Covid-19 should be a wake-up call that it can no longer be business as usual.

The African Energy Chamber is setting the stage for a strong fight in 2021 for a push for Africa's fiscal and tax reform and, regulatory relief for the energy sector that will help usher in a post covid-19 recovery and a new era of growth.

In order for us to recover, strengthen and sustain that growth, immediate action to modernize the Africa's energy infrastructure, promote rule base free markets, monetize gas and corporate governance reforms to lift the disastrous job and investment killing BEAC regulations in the CEMAC region and other impediments currently dissuading businesses from investing, growing and creating jobs.

Radical environmental extremism poses a danger to Africa's growth and the fight to address energy poverty. We must resist the idea that Africa needs to rely on foreign aid to accelerate its growth. If we don't lead our own way in addressing energy poverty and seeing through a seamless energy transition, we are falling behind. The bottom line is that Africa's growth will be weakened, not strengthened or sustained, if we pull back from developing our energy sector with the ideology that our oil and gas should be left in the ground. Western nations have used bears and their resources to develop their countries. What crimes have Africans committed to not do the same?

The energy industry and the business community need to take leadership in the effort to find solutions for ongoing economic challenges. Our energy sector continues to be resilient. As Africans we are strong — but we must be determined to grow a stronger oil and gas industry in 2021.

We must be determined to help lead our continent through this period of rapid change so that it emerges stronger, more competitive, and more secure. And are determined to help turn growth today into prosperity that endures.

By

Annie Odounlami Health & Environment 2020-11-10