The United Kingdom has approved another antibody treatment called sotrovimab for people with Covid that cuts the risk of severe illness.

Scientists say preliminary checks suggest it should work well even against new variants such as Omicron.

The drug, given in a drip into a vein, binds to the virus to stop it entering the cells. In a clinical trial, a single dose reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death by 79 percent in high-risk adults. It is reportedly the second drug of its kind – a monoclonal antibody treatment – that UK regulators have approved.

The Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS – AKSACA has tasked all Akwa Ibomites and indeed Nigerians, on the need to end inequality, as panacea for HIV/AIDS prevalence in Akwa Ibom state.

The project manager of Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS – AKSACA, Igbemi Igbemi stated this at the world AIDS day celebration. In his remarks, Igbemi, who thanked all supporting donors for their various contributions and fundings, underscored the importance of ending discrimination against people living with HIV.

UNAID state representative, Dr Idayat Uthman, in her remarks called for government support in healthcare.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of the network of people living with HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth Udoh, also sought for funding from the state government for AKSACA to help persons living with the virus in a transparent manner.

READ ALSO: FG commences enforcement of mandatory vaccination against COVID-19

Notable figures at the event were the state AIDs program coordinator, Dr. Ime Usanga, representative of NACA, Hyginus Areji; as well as representatives of other special donors including UNAID, USAID, JSI, Heartland Alliance, UNFPA, among others.

The grand finale for the World AIDS day celebration which was held yesterday featured a walk from the ministry of health to Ibom plaza where there was a symposium and talk show hosting all the partners as led by AKSACA.   

By Florence Essien

Security Operatives at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, today took over major entrances to ensure that civil servants without proof of vaccination or negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), test, were barred from accessing their offices.

 Planet news had earlier reported that the federal government has set a deadline of December 1 for civil servants to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

READ ALSO: Medical practitioner calls on stakeholders and govt to tackle high rate of mortality associated with AIDS as World AIDS Day is marked today

In the earlier report, the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, had announced that Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours to gain access to their offices in all locations within Nigeria and its Missions from today.

The Senate has sustained a query issued against the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital – UITH over alleged spending of 167million naira without following due process.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide relied on the 2016 report of the Auditor General for the Federation – AUGF to take its decision at its last sitting.

The report noted that relevant guidelines stipulated that procurement in such a category must not exceed 200,000 naira.

READ ALSO: Federal Government to declare Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2022

According to the report,  several cases of abuse of internal controls were observed.

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By Florence Essien

The federal government has reaffirmed the December 1 deadline for civil servants to take the covid-19 vaccines.

The government said it was ready to engage the Nigerian governors’ forum on mass vaccination of citizens.

It also warned that vaccination records or certificates would be verified to detect citizens, who procured such cards through the black market and prosecute them.

About two million people who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 have been placed in lockdown in Austria as the country faces a surge in cases.

Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to leave home for limited reasons, like working or buying food and Children under the age of 12 and people who have recently recovered from the virus will be exempted.

However, the measures introduced in Austria which come amid growing pressure on the nation’s hospitals will initially last for 10 days.

READ ALSO: Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed Blames Rising Cost Of Rice On Smuggling

ELSEWHERE – US journalist Danny Fenster has been released from prison in Myanmar after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail by a military court three days ago.

The 37-year-old will now be allowed to leave the country, junta. Recall that Fenster, the managing editor of an online site was detained in May as he was about to fly back to the US and had been convicted of breaching immigration law, unlawful association and encouraging dissent against the military.

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By Florence Essien

The Akwa Ibom state agency for the control of aids (AKSACA) in collaboration with the department of multilateral and donor agencies with support from the united nation population fund (UNFPA) organized a two days sensitization and free condom distribution campaign on HIV/AIDS in Akwa Ibom state with a theme ” weekend condom promotion and distribution campaign “.

The event which took place in oron and uyo local government areas of the state targeted young people in various strategic locations such as the riverine area, market square, Ibom plaza, and others witnessed many youths from different works of life who received sensitization on prevention against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, condom distribution/usage.

READ ALSO: World Health Organization recommends the use of the first malaria vaccine for children

Speaking with planet news, the programs officer, AKSACA, Emmanuel Benson noted that there was a need to stop the further spread of HIV infection in the state.

Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries of the just-concluded campaign led by Eyo Achibong commended the state government and other donor agencies for their good work.

Our correspondent Victory Okon reports that other non-governmental organizations who joined the sensitization program include the Association of positive youths living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (APIN), Sexual Assault and Child Abuse (SACA) and many others.   

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control-NCDC saying that the country has recorded 387 additional COVID-19 infections in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Akwa Ibom having 15 new covid 19 cases.

The center posted the figure on its Facebook page, adding that 21 COVID-19- related deaths has also been recorded, increasing the death toll to 2,619.

READ ALSO:Nigeria Chess Federation lists 20 players for the yearly National Chess Championship

According to the public health agency, of the 387 new infections, Lagos recorded 114, Rivers 91, the FCT 32, Edo 31 and Delta 28. Kwara recorded 20, Bayelsa 18, Akwa Ibom 15, Oyo 10, Osun 8, Gombe 5, Plateau 5, Ekiti 4, Ogun 3, Kano 2 and Kaduna state 1.

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