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Possible Treatments, Vaccines Raise Hopes of Ebola Cure

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Eight experimental treatments and two vaccines for Ebola were on the table on Thursday as 200 health experts met to discuss how to end the world’s worst-ever outbreak of the killer virus.

No fully tested and approved treatments or vaccines exist for Ebola, which has killed more than 1,900 people in West Africa since the beginning of the year.

In a bid to stem the epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has condoned the use of experimental drugs, and experts in Geneva were discussing which treatments were in the pipeline and how quickly they could be made available to the public.

In a working document for the closed-door meeting, the UN health agency listed eight potential therapies, including the experimental drug ZMapp, which has been given to a handful of frontline health workers who have contracted Ebola, three of whom have recovered, and two of whom have died.

Two experimental vaccines for Ebola, which transmits through contact with infected bodily fluids, were also listed.

“None are clinically proven,” WHO stressed in its working document, adding that “while extraordinary measures are now in place to accelerate the pace of clinical trials, new treatments or vaccines are not expected for widespread use before the end of 2014.”

“Until then, only small quantities of up to a few… doses/treatments will be available,” it said, pointing out that in normal circumstances, the clinical evaluation period for new drugs and vaccines can take up to a decade.

The experts meeting on Thursday, including policy makers, ethicists, clinicians, researchers and patient representatives from affected countries, also aimed to facilitate contacts between countries affected by the disease and countries producing treatments.

Global health experts have stepped up warnings in recent days that world leaders need to do more to address the epidemic, which is most prominent in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

“The current West African Ebola outbreak is unprecedented in size, complexity and the strain it has imposed on health systems,” WHO said in a statement.

“There is intense public interest in, and demand for, anything that offers hope of definitive treatment.”


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Head of Civil Service Celebrates 100 Days in Office with the Launch of Galaxy Backbone’s “Govmail”

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In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, MINI, today marked her 100 days in office and officially launched three digital services platforms for the Civil Service.

These include, Govmail, ServiceWise GPT and the Federal Civil Service Online Portal. These platforms, underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to enhancing digital governance and driving innovation across the nation’s Federal Civil Service.

Govmail, an email platform developed and powered by Galaxy Backbone (GBB) is an innovative solution set to enhance communication, boost efficiency, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation journey within the public sector.

Speaking at a meeting where the Govmail Interface was first officially presented and demonstrated to her, the Head of Civil Service expressed her excitement about the platform, stating, “GBB’s Govmail is unbelievably WOW!

This is a game-changer for our nation’s civil service, streamlining communication and creating a secure path to other government digital services. With Govmail, we are truly embracing the future of digital governance.”

Govmail is a secure, Nigeria-centric email platform designed by a team from Galaxy Backbone, exclusively for public service professionals. It ensures that all official communication are seamlessly managed while safeguarding Nigeria’s data sovereignty. The initiative emerged as a key outcome of the Digitalisation War Room, established by Mrs. Walson- Jack, to drive the implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions in government.

Commenting on this milestone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, shared, “We are immensely proud to have developed this revolutionary platform, ensuring that every Nigerian civil servant has access to a robust and secure communication channel.

Govmail is not just about email—it’s about enabling productivity, efficiency, and sovereignty in governance. Galaxy Backbone remains committed to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s public sector.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo emphasized the strategic importance of the Govmail for the nation’s Civil Service stating that “Govmail significantly reduces the government’s reliance on foreign email platforms, cutting costs and addressing licensing challenges. This is a commendable achievement by the Head of Service and the leadership of Galaxy Backbone.”

Through GBB’s dedicated efforts, Govmail will rapidly roll out email accounts to over 70,000 Federal civil servants across Nigeria, ensuring every government professional is equipped with a secure communication platform in record time. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of leveraging technology to build a digitally driven and globally competitive public service.


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Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

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The Senate has approved the new external borrowing plan request of $2.2 billion presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.

Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at the plenary session on Thursday.

The report was presented by the Sen. Aliyu Wammako, chairman of the Committee.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, Nov 19, in separate letters to both chambers of the National Assembly, requested approval of a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to part fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget .

Senate upon receipt of the request, mandated its committee on local and foreign debts to expeditiously ensure further legislative inputs on the request and report back within 24 hours.

Presenting the committee‘s report, Wammako said the presidential request was very necessary for approval.

He said the loan request would be utilised for execution of ongoing projects and programmes in the 2024 appropriation act , saying that the projects were critical for national growth and development.

“It will contribute to the implementation of the debt management strategy, which seeks to reduce the cost of borrowing.

” It will lengthen maturity of the public debt stock, free – up space in the domestic market for other borrowers, and help increase Nigeria’s external reserves .” Wammako said Nigeria could raise all or part of the 2.2billion dollars through the issuance of Eurobonds in the International Capital Market ( ICM) .

Wammako thereafter is recommended as follows:

“That the Senate do approve the implementation of the new external borrowing of 2.2 billion dollars at the budget exchange rate of one dollars to N800 in the 2024 appropriation act and that the amount should be raised from one or more sources.

“Namely, issuance of eurobonds in the ICM, issuance of debut sovereign Sukuk in the ICM, and bridge, syndicated loans, subject to market conditions.”

The report was thereafter unanimously approved via an affirmative voice vote.

In his remarks after the approval, Senator Jibrin Barau, deputy president of the Senate, who presided plenary, commended the Wammako led committee for a job well done.


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Airtel, Mobihealth Partner to Improve Healthcare Access for Nigerians

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Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunication and mobile money service provider, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Mobihealth International, a pioneering telehealth service provider.

This strategic collaboration is set to significantly improve healthcare access for millions of people across Nigeria, particularly in underserved communities.

Under this partnership, Nigerians will enjoy affordable and round the clock access to Mobihealth’s innovative telemedicine services, allowing them to connect with licensed healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes via mobile phones.

Mobihealth’s platform offers a range of services including 24/7 teleconsultations, prescription services, delivery of genuine medications, and access to international medical specialists.

A Game Changer for Healthcare in Africa

Airtel’s vast network infrastructure will empower Mobihealth to extend its reach to rural and remote areas, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations can access quality healthcare. This partnership also aims to support the government’s efforts at resolving the nation’s healthcare challenges, including limited access to doctors, high healthcare costs, and a shortage of medical facilities.

Speaking on the partnership, Femi Oshinlaja, Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, stated, “We believe that telemedicine will play a crucial role in Nigeria’s healthcare future. Our partnership with Mobihealth showcases our dedication to providing innovative solutions that significantly improve the lives of Nigerians.”

Dr. Funmi Adewara, Founder and CEO of Mobihealth, added: “This partnership with Airtel is a major milestone in our mission to democratize healthcare in Africa. Together, we will offer a lifeline to millions who face barriers to accessing timely, affordable, and quality medical care. Our telehealth platform will provide convenient access to qualified doctors, diagnostics, and treatments, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

This collaboration is expected to transform the healthcare landscape across Nigeria, making healthcare services more accessible, affordable, and effective.

 


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