National News
HIV, TB, COVID-19 pose challenge and opportunity- US-CDC
HIV, TB, COVID-19 pose challenge and opportunity- US-CDC
By: Our Reporter
The Country Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Mary Adetinuke Boyd has said, “the triple epidemic of HIV, TB, and COVID-19 poses a challenge and an opportunity.”
She explained that “the challenge is that all three diseases are relentless, damaging, and continue to cost countless lives in our communities. However, because detection, treatment, and prevention exist and are readily available to us right here and right now, we have an opportunity to respond and save many lives.”
She made the statement during the launch of the Rivers State Integrated screening and service delivery for TB, HIV, and COVID-19, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, October 25.
A statement by the US Embassy on Monday said with the support of the US-CDC, the integrated screening and service delivery for these three diseases aims to integrate COVID-19 screening into points where HIV and TB services are already being provided, thereby improving access to early detection and prevention, and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities and communities.
The statement further added that in addition, this novel initiative will scale up the utilization of an Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for timely and efficient triage, Infection Prevention Control (IPC), and accelerated vaccine uptake by creating additional access points and communication that promote the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines, thereby reducing the chances of severe illness and death.
Boyd urged healthcare workers to be the champions against vaccine misinformation and disinformation, and to lead by example in promoting the use of vaccines against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
To date, Nigeria has had three COVID-19 waves, and Rivers State has been deeply affected, reporting the 3rd most considerable burden of COVID-19 and COVID-19 deaths in the country. Moreover, due to the government’s commitment to active surveillance, the data shows that each subsequent COVID-19 wave in Rivers has higher peaks in cases and deaths.
Boyd said: “While we battled the COVID-19 pandemic, other disease outbreaks didn’t give us a break; instead, the intensity of cholera and environmental polio in Nigeria soared higher than we’ve experienced in years. It reminds us that these devastating health threats are unpredictable, and even worse, if we are not ready to respond with agility.”
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Integrating screening and service delivery for COVID-19, HIV, and TB in Rivers State will also strengthen the health system to detect and respond robustly to emerging outbreaks while putting the patient at the center of healthcare service delivery.
Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, and the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Weneke Danagogo, the Country Director discussed efforts at supporting Rivers State towards tackling HIV, TB, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. She commended the exemplary leadership of the state government towards the health sector leading to essential milestones in HIV epidemic control and the strong collaboration with US-CDC and its implementing partner, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). CDC’s robust support to the HIV response in Rivers has resulted in demonstrable progress, with the state attaining 90% treatment coverage within 24 months.
The Country Director noted the success recorded in Rivers despite the pandemic demonstrates the incredible resilience of the PEPFAR infrastructure, but she agreed with Rivers State government officials that these successes are at risk if programming for the other rampant preventable causes of death like tuberculosis and COVID-19 are not mainstreamed and addressed.
The U.S. Government is at the forefront of providing support to Rivers and other states in Nigeria for HIV epidemic control, TB elimination, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through strong collaboration with the USG and other multilateral including WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Fund, integration of triple disease screening and service delivery for COVID-19, HIV, and TB will enable states like Rivers to close the HIV treatment gap further, increase COVID-19 vaccination and ultimately reduce infectious disease morbidity and mortality. To date, the U.S. has donated over 7.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria.
HIV, TB, COVID-19 pose challenge and opportunity- US-CDC
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria in Ethiopia
By: Our Reporter
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria Hajiya Nana Shettima arrived Addis Ababa With Her Husband, Senator Kashim Shettima to attend the 30th General Assembly of Organization of African First Ladies For Development (OAFLAD) while The Vice President will be attending the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of States and Government on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Mrs Shettima is Representing First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON.
The African First Ladies are expected to Focus on internal issues and advance OAFLAD’s strategic priorities.
The 30th General Assembly’s open session under the theme “Building Resilience for Women and Girls: Climate, Conflict, and Sustainable Futures will be held on the 15th of February.
Mrs Shettima who left Abuja this afternoon for Addis Ababa the Capital of Ethiopia will participate in various meetings with African First Ladies spanning for Three Days
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria in Ethiopia
Vice President Shettima Arrives Ethiopia Ahead Of AU Summit
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government, as well as the 30th General Assembly, scheduled to hold on February 14 and 15, 2026, respectively.
The Vice President was received at the Bole International Airport by the Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Belete Mola, alongside the Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Berhanu tsegaye; Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yussuf Tuggar; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed; Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Amb. Nasiru Aminu; Head of Consular and Ambassador-Designate, Amb. Geoffrey Chima and other government officials.
On arrival, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Tuggar, debriefed the Vice President on his itinerary at the Summit.
This year’s AU summit, with the theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will focus on advancing continental commitments toward sustainable water management, improved sanitation systems, and the broader development aspirations encapsulated in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Besides the Heads of State meetings, Senator Shettima will participate in high-level side events, and bilateral engagements with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
Speaking with journalists after debriefing the Vice President, Amb. Tuggar said the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) is a strategic move to consolidate and strengthen the democratic culture in Africa.
On the gains of the summit, the Minister noted that the country was already taking in the benefits of her participation, with the confirmati on of Nigeria as the host of the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank as well as its nomination to the board of the bank.
Vice President Shettima Arrives Ethiopia Ahead Of AU Summit
National News
VP Shettima Departs Abuja to Represent President Tinubu at the 2026 African Union Summit
VP Shettima Departs Abuja to Represent President Tinubu at the 2026 African Union Summit
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2026 African Union (AU) Summit.
The Summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will focus on advancing continental commitments toward sustainable water management, improved sanitation systems, and the broader development aspirations encapsulated in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
While in Addis Ababa, the Vice President will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government, as well as the 30th General Assembly, scheduled to hold on February 14 and 15, 2026, respectively.
On the margins of the Summit, Senator Shettima will participate in high-level side events and hold bilateral engagements with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent.
The Vice President is accompanied by cabinet ministers and other senior government officials. He is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his official engagements in Addis Ababa.
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