COWBOY STATE !! Gunmen storm Kogi hospital, disrupt coronavirus press conference

Unknown gunmen on Wednesday morning attacked the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi State, carting away computers and other sensitive materials from the administrative department of the health institution.

The gunmen were said to have arrived in three vehicles and harassed health workers in the facility.

The hospital had scheduled a media briefing for the day to demand a COVID-19 screening centre in the state and to also speak about the challenges health workers are facing with regard to the disease.

Items such as personal computers and phones of staffers were seized.

 

This is coming less than 24 hours after the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, disagreed with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on the cause of the death of the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajana.

Justice Ajana died on Sunday in the Gwagwalada COVID-19 isolation centre.

But the governor, who was speaking at the third-day prayers for the deceased on Tuesday, said the late Chief Judge died a natural death, urged the people not to attribute his death to anything else.

The hospital is said to be in a feud with the state government over the latter’s insistence that coronavirus is a hoax.

- PM NEWS

Messi to lose Golden Shoe to Lewandowski

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, faces losing his European Golden Shoe to Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

Messi has won the prize given to the highest goal scorer in the major leagues six times and is looking to clinch for the fourth consecutive season.

The 33-year-old scored in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid, bringing his tally to 22 goals.

However, he has work to do if he wants to catch Lewandowski.

The Poland striker leads the way with 34 Bundesliga goals, which equates to 68 points and Messi’s 22 goals are worth 44 points.

However, Messi has five games to go, whereas Bayern Munich are done with their domestic season.

- DAILY POST

Key COVID-19 drug to cost $390 per bottle in developed countries

Remdesivir, an antiviral drug to be used in treating COVID-19, will cost $390 per bottle for developed countries.

The drug, which has proven effective in the treatment of COVID-19, will be sold at a higher price of $520 per vial for US private insurance companies.

Daniel O’Day, chief executive officer of Gilead Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company in the US, made this known in an open letter on Monday.

He said the cost for a patient who receives a five-day treatment course using six vials of remdesivir will be $2,340, while it will cost hospitals $3,120 for a typical US patient with commercial insurance.

On April 29, Gilead Sciences announced positive data in the clinical trial of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19.

Three days later, the drug was granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The company’s chief executive officer said the price of the drug is placed below the value it provides.

According to O’Day, the company has entered into an agreement with the US department of health and human services (HHS) whereby HHS and states will continue to manage allocation to hospitals until the end of September.

O’Day added that for developing countries, the drug will be given at “a substantially lower cost”.

“Even just considering these immediate savings to the healthcare system alone, we can see the potential value that remdesivir provides. This is before we factor in the direct benefit to those patients who may have a shorter stay in the hospital,” the letter read.

“We have decided to price remdesivir well below this value. To ensure broad and equitable access at a time of urgent global need, we have set a price for governments of developed countries of $390 per vial. Based on current treatment patterns, the vast majority of patients are expected to receive a 5-day treatment course using 6 vials of remdesivir, which equates to $2,340 per patient.

“Part of the intent behind our decision was to remove the need for country by country negotiations on price. We discounted the price to a level that is affordable for developed countries with the lowest purchasing power. This price will be offered to all governments in developed countries around the world where remdesivir is approved or authorized for use. At the current price of $390 per vial, remdesivir is positioned to achieve the aim of providing immediate net savings for healthcare systems.

“In the U.S., the same government price of $390 per vial will apply. Because of the way the U.S. system is set up and the discounts that government healthcare programs expect, the price for U.S. private insurance companies will be $520 per vial. At the level we have priced remdesivir and with government programs in place, along with additional Gilead assistance as needed, we believe all patients will have access.

“Gilead has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) whereby HHS and states will continue to manage allocation to hospitals until the end of September. After this period, once supplies are less constrained, HHS will no longer manage allocation.

“In the developing world, where healthcare resources, infrastructure and economics are so different, we have entered into agreements with generic manufacturers to deliver treatment at a substantially lower cost. These alternative solutions are designed to ensure that all countries in the world can provide access to treatment.”

Globally, over 10.3 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded.

Although more than 5.5 million patients have recovered from the infection, over 500,000 deaths have been recorded.

- THECABLE

Army: How our convoy killed 75-year-old man in Katsina

The Nigerian army says Salisu Ibrahim, a 75-year-old man, was killed by one of the vehicles in a convoy going to pick up W.B Idris, the army’s 17 brigade commander, in Katsina state. 

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, on Monday, paid a visit to the state. 

The accident, witnesses said, occurred around Mani House Junction in Katsina.

Ibrahim was said to be going to Kofar Kaura to share invitation cards for his daughter’s wedding to family members when the incident happened.

He was hit by one of the vehicles and he died immediately, sources said. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Sagir Musa, army spokesperson, said the army had sent a delegation to Ibrahim’s family. 

“The convoy of the commander, 17 brigade NA, Katsina was involved in a road traffic accident on 29 June, 2020 during which the death to a road user was recorded,” he said. 

“The late motorcycle rider was a 75-year-old man named Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim of Filin Samji, Katsina. The incident occurred when the vehicles went to refuel and were expected to pick up the brigade commander later.

“Already, a delegation of the Nigerian Army led by the Brigade commander has visited the family to commiserate with them and will be fully involved in the burial.”

When contacted, Gambo Isa, police spokesperson in the state, said he was not around and could not comment on the matter.

- THECABLE

COVID-19: 172 Nigerians evacuated from Uganda, Nairobi arrive Abuja, Lagos

The Nigerian government has announced that 172 Nigerians have been evacuated from Uganda and Nairobi due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nigerian in the Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, disclosed this on its official Twitter account on Wednesday.

The Commission said the evacuated Nigerians arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja at 10:20 on an AirPeace Flight B777-200.

According to NIDCOM, some evacuated Nigerians will disembark in Abuja while others will proceed to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“All Evacuees tested negative to COVID-19 before leaving Uganda and Nairobi and will now proceed on 14 days Self-Isolation as mandated by NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,” the tweet reads.

- DAILY POST