The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Covid- 19: No procession during palm Sunday, only five persons during mass/service – Etta

    Covid- 19: No procession during palm Sunday, only five persons during mass/service – Etta

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    As the world continue to contend the pandemic virus codenamed Civid- 19, the Cross River State government has maintained that on no account should any church hold procession during the palm Sunday, which according to the catholic calendar is billed for 5the of March, 2020.

    In a release signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, Rev. Father Bob Etta and made available to THELUMINENEWS indicates that only 5 persons are permitted per time to attend the palm Sunday masses/services.

    The release reads in part “His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade KSJI the Governor of CRS, the Hon. Commissioner for Health and indeed the COVID 19 Response team in CRS wishes to thank CAN CRS for the great co-operation shown thus Far in the fight against Coronavirus in our dear State. We are grateful that your efforts has kept our State Coronavirus free today.

    “His Excellency wishes to remind us that these last days are critical therefore:

    1. For Masses/ Services tomorrow Palm Sunday only 5 persons are permitted.

    2. No Processions are not permitted tomorrow. Social distancing of 3 meters is still in Place.

    3. Since the Church is first a Family, we are encouraged to hold our religious services in our homes and Pray for the wellbeing of our State and Nation.

    4. Remember to wear a Mask when going out.

    5. May God save our State from the scourge of this pandemic and Bless us All”

    Fr. Bob B. Etta
    Snr. Special Adviser
    Religious Matters.
    4/4/2020

  • COVID- 19: NMA launches online health connect services in Cross River

    COVID- 19: NMA launches online health connect services in Cross River

    BY Gorge Odok Jr. – Calabar

    The Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River has launched a free Healthcare Connect Service at the Calabar Women and Children Hospital for residents in the state.

    Launching the Connect Service on Saturday in Calabar, Dr Ofem Enang, 2nd Vice President of NMA, National, said the service was meant to connect residents in the state with qualified healthcare personnel in view of the stay at home order of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Enang said that the launching became necessary in other to help residents access quality healthcare within this period.

    According to him, the Connect Service will ensure that residents in the state are linked up with specialist on different medical fields to attend to their health needs.

    Speaking, Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk who gave out the numbers, 09081599993 and 09081599994, urged residents to call and lay complain whenever they have health challenges and needed prescriptions or referrals to any health facility for treatment.

    Ayuk said that with the stay at home order of the government, suspected Covid-19 cases and others who may have other healthcare needs may be prevented from accessing desired or required healthcare.

    He explained that hospitals and other health institutions were doing everything possible to keep crowds away from the hospitals.

    “As we prepare to contain Covid-19, we must not lose sight of other health challenges faced by the populace, especially the vulnerable in Cross River and beyond.

    “Our consulting rooms are scanty for the above stated reasons; pertinent questions that should bother us as healthcare providers are; has Covid-19 made other diseases to suddenly disappear?

    “If the answer is no, where are the patients receiving care? If they can’t get to the certified professionals, are they seeking help from quacks or they just remain at home and bear their burden and wait for dead?

    “The focus of the Connect Service is to provide citizens the go-to-place to access evidence based, Covid-19 public health and safety information”, he said.

    He further said that the Connect Service will also identify and manage other health problems requiring over the counter medications based on standardized protocols.

    According to him, the centre will also request essential laboratory tests, where necessary for patients with minor health problems based on standardized protocols.

    “The centre will also provide remote consultation for patients with chronic illness for the purpose of ordering medication refill or schedule hospital appointments for them with their respective hospitals to keep them safely away from the public.

    “The e-health centre will also provide online triage of respiratory infections and scheduling special appointments for these patients with relevant hospitals.

    “The centre will also provide those on schedule healthcare appointments with a valid, verifiable electronic pass to see their respective doctors and home service when necessary for the elderly”, he said.

    • The Connect Service is headed by Dr Elihu Osim, the Chairman of Information and Communication Technology Committee.
  • BREAKING: Missing Osun coronavirus patient found

    BREAKING: Missing Osun coronavirus patient found

    By Damaris Onyendi – Calabar

    The missing COVID-19 patient from Osun State Isolation Centre in Ejigbo has been apprehended and returned to the centre.

     

    The patient, a woman, was apprehended in Ejigbo town and returned to the facility by the police on Saturday afternoon.

     

    Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Ismail Omipidan, confirmed the development to The PUNCH.

     

    He said that the patient had been apprehended and returned to the facility.

     

    Prior to this, the Osun State government debunked the information of 6 missing coronavirus patient, saying that a headcount was carried out as just 1 patient was found to be missing from the isolation centre.

  • 6 Coronovirus patients abscond from isolation centre in Osun State

    6 Coronovirus patients abscond from isolation centre in Osun State

    By Damaris Onyendi – Calabar

    Six  persons tested positive for coronavirus have escaped from their isolation centre in Osun state on Friday night, 3rd of April, 2020.

    The six patients according to Nigerian Tribune belong to a cluster of COVID-19 cases who recently returned to the state from Ivory Coast.

    Upon their return to Nigeria on Saturday, March 28, 2020, Osun state government immediately isolated the travellers at Gedu in Ejigbo.

    But six of them escaped from the isolation centre on Friday night.

    An official who spoke to Daily Trust said the state government has launched a manhunt for the patients.

    Below are the names of the six persons with their phone numbers and addresses, as sent to Pulse by a source.

    1. LAWAL Waliyulah, Masifa Ejigbo, 08063691573

    2. LASISI Murafat, Olugbodi’s compd Ejigbo, +22505368845. C/o Ganiyat Alabi, 08075441187

    3. Yusuff Afees, Ile Alawe, Ejigbo, 07011196193

    4. Isola Abibat, Ile Olori, Ejigbo, 08055905010

    5. Nua Oyeleye, Ile Jesu, Oguro Ejigbo, 08109375276

    6. Juel Olasupo, Ile Baale Ejigbo, 08149584397

  • BAF Donates Cash & Preventive Supplies to Covid-19 fight in Cross River State

    BAF Donates Cash & Preventive Supplies to Covid-19 fight in Cross River State

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

     

    As part of the efforts to combat the dreaded Covid -19 pandemic, the Ben Akak Foundation has made donation of essential preventive supplies to assist the Cross River State government.

     

    This is the most high profile example of how a foundation are utilizing their assets and funds for social good amid a devastating outbreak that has pretty much shut down the State economy.

     

    The Health Commissioner, Dr Betta Edu on receiving the items said the foundation has gone beyond bound to show earnomous support to the state as this is a fight for humanity and appreciated the founder of the foundation, Engr. Ben Akak and others who have made this donation possible.

     

    According to her this is a huge response to the team effort in tackling the dangerous pandemic as the state will ensure those who have supported the course of the fight will have their names written in gold as remembrance of their efforts for future purpose.

     

    The leader of the team Mrs. Josephine Ben Akak said they are not ignorant of the efforts of His Excellency towards eliminating Covid-19 in Cross River State. According to her this is the reasons Ben Akak foundation which cares about the people’s standard of living in the state has donated the items.

     

    Over 300 Sanitizers, 400 surgical gloves , 200 face masks and 1million Naira cash was donated to the Cross River State Ministry of Health as their support to His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade efforts in tackling the pandemic. Also in the Ben Akak Foundation delegation was high profile appointees of the Governor, Mr. Austin Ibok, SSA on Amnesty, Mr. Raphael Morphy, SSA Job Placement, Mr. Effefiong Nta Eke, PDP Chairmanship candidate of Calabar Municipality LGA amongst others.

  • Breaking: LSUTH Sends Away Man Who tested Positive For Corona Virus For Lack Of Bed Space

    Breaking: LSUTH Sends Away Man Who tested Positive For Corona Virus For Lack Of Bed Space

    Mr. Emmanuel Benson was sent home from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital having being tested positive for corona virus for lack of bed space.

    Benson who had hoped to be quarantined and treated at LUTH after being at the government-owned hospital on March 21, was disappointed when he was asked to go home for inadequate bed space in the facility.

    SaharaReporters had reported that since the refusal of LUTH to admit Mr. Benson, he had returned home and continued his normal life.

    “He moved to and from LUTH through public transportation.

    “He has being mingling freely with people”  a friend to Benson told SaharaReporters on Thursday.

    When contacted on Thursday night by SaharaReporters, Benson confirmed that he tested positive for the virus and was not admitted to LUTH by medical personnel.

    Benson disclosed that he went for the test after coming in contact with the two UK returnees at a dinner party in Lagos last week.

    Benson on Whatsapp chat with one of SaharaReporters correspondent, stated that “I am at home for self-isolation now.

    “I had the test at LUTH even though the queue was too long.

    “They said I should go back in 14 days or that in seven days, they might call to check on my progress.

    I was infected at a dinner party organized for the two men who returned to Nigeria from the UK.

    “I went for the test on March 21”

    When asked if he had attempted to contact the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to notify them of his situation and probably seek help,Benson said, “I have called the NCDC lines several times, but they are not picking up their call”

    To give credence to Benson’s situation, the NCDC on Thursday night announced 12 new confirmed cases of Corona Virus in Lagos.

    This now bring the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 65 and one death recorded.

    Till date, less than 200 persons have been tested for the virus despite Lagos state alone having a population of over 20 Million.

  • Coronavirus: President Buhari approves use of Stadia, NYSC orientation camps as Isolation centers

    Coronavirus: President Buhari approves use of Stadia, NYSC orientation camps as Isolation centers

    Prеѕіdеnt Buhаrі hаѕ rероrtеdlу аррrоvеd thе uѕе оf fоur ѕtаdіа аѕ well аѕ all NYSC оrіеntаtіоn camps іn thе соuntrу, аѕ іѕоlаtіоn centres іn thе fight аgаіnѕt coronavirus pandemic.

    Mіnіѕtеr of Yоuth аnd Sроrt, Sundау Dаrе mаdе this knоwn vіа social media раgе this аftеrnооn.

    This wіll be the bеѕt ѕоng you’d lіѕtеn tо today: Kауоdе – Sideguy
    “Mr. Prеѕіdеnt hаѕ approved fоr thе Mіnіѕtrу of Youth аnd Sports tо ореn and mаkе available thе ѕtаdіumѕ іn Surulere Lаgоѕ, Ibаdаn, Abujа and Kaduna аѕ wеll аѕ оur NYSC саmрѕ nationwide fоr uѕе аѕ іѕоlаtіоn centers аѕ thеу аrе needed. Wе аrе іn tоuсh wіth rеlеvаnt аuthоrіtіеѕ.”

    We аrе іn thіѕ tоgеthеr. And tоgеthеr wе shall оvеrсоmе. I call оn the Yоuth of Nіgеrіа tо bе аt thе vаnguаrd оf dіѕѕеmіnаtіоn оf tіmеlу and ассurаtе іnfоrmаtіоn vіа ѕосіаl media tо Nіgеrіаnѕ іn their соmmunіtіеѕ. Wе must ratchet uр thе awareness campaign for оur people.”

  • Breaking News: ASUU commences indefinite strike

    The Academic Union of Universities ASUU, on Monday 23th of March declared an indefinite strike over the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System and the non-implementatipn of the 2009 agreement.

     

    The National President of the Union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi announced the indefinite strike at a press briefing held at the its National Secretariat, Abuja.

     

    Ogunyemi noted that the federal government failed to address the issues raised by ASUU and so, the Union has no option than to proceed on the strike action.

     

    The indefinite strike comes on the heels of the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum issued on Monday, March 9, 2020.

    By Damaris Onyendi – Calabar