The World Health Organisation on Tuesday said viral hepatitis infections are the second leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per year, the same as tuberculosis, a top infectious killer. WHO disclosed this in its 2024 Global Hepatitis Reports at the World Hepatitis Summit. The WHS is taking place from April 9 to 11, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, under the theme, “Integrate Accelerate Eliminate.”” WHS is a global meeting to advance the viral hepatitis agenda and provide a platform for a broad hepatitis community to take stock of progress to date, and share experiences and best practices in reaching and validating viral hepatitis elimination. WHO said hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents, leading to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal. Make Me A Pope, I Will Impregnate All Women In Church – Prophet Who Married Three Wives | Punch0.00 / 0.00 There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods. According to the body, its African region bears 63 per cent of new hepatitis B infections, yet despite this burden, only 18 per cent of newborns in the region receive the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination. “In the Western Pacific Region, which accounts for 47 per cent of hepatitis B deaths, treatment coverage stands at 23 per cent among people diagnosed, which is far too low to reduce mortality. “Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation and Viet Nam, collectively shoulder nearly two-thirds of the global burden of hepatitis B and C. Achieving universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in these ten countries by 2025, alongside intensified efforts in the African Region, is essential to get the global response back on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals,” it highlighted. The global health body said the number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis is increasing as the infections claim 3,500 lives every day. The WHO report highlighted that despite better tools for diagnosis and treatment, and decreasing product prices, testing and treatment coverage rates have stalled. But, reaching the WHO elimination goal by 2030 should still be achievable, if swift actions are taken now. “New data from 187 countries show that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these, 83 per cent were caused by hepatitis B, and 17 per cent by hepatitis C. Every day, 3,500 people are dying globally due to hepatitis B and C infections,” it noted. The WHO Director-General, Dr Terror Ghebreyesus said, “This report paints a troubling picture: despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated. “WHO is committed to supporting countries to use all the tools at their disposal – at access prices – to save lives and turn this trend around.” Updated WHO estimates indicate that 254 million people live with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C in 2022. Half the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections is among people 30–54 years old, with 12 per cent among children under 18 years of age. Men account for 58 per cent of all cases. “New incidence estimates indicate a slight decrease compared to 2019, but the overall incidence of viral hepatitis remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, down from 2.5 million in 2019. “These include 1.2 million new hepatitis B infections and nearly 1 million new hepatitis C infections. More than 6,000 people are getting newly infected with viral hepatitis each day. “The revised estimates are derived from enhanced data from national prevalence surveys. They also indicate that prevention measures such as immunization and safe injections, along with the expansion of hepatitis C treatment, have contributed to reducing the incidence,” it stated. On the progress and gaps in diagnosis and treatment, the organisation said across all regions, only 13 per cent of people living with chronic hepatitis B infection had been diagnosed and approximately three per cent (7 million) had received antiviral therapy at the end of 2022. “Regarding hepatitis C, 36 per cent had been diagnosed and 20 per cent (12.5 million) had received curative treatment. “These results fall well below the global targets to treat 80 per cent of people living with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030. However, they do indicate slight but consistent improvement in diagnosis and treatment coverage since the last reported estimates in 2019. Specifically, hepatitis B diagnosis increased from 10 per cent to 13 per cent and treatment from two per cent to three per cent, and hepatitis C diagnosis from 21 per cent to 36 per cent and treatment from 13 per cent to 20 per cent.” The report recommends acceleration of hepatitis elimination by expanding access to testing and diagnostics; shifting from policies to implementation for equitable treatment; strengthening primary care prevention efforts; simplifying service delivery, optimising product regulation and supply; developing investment cases in priority countries, and mobilising innovative financing; among others.

  A Kano State High Court has fixed April 17, 2024, for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, son, and five others, for alleged bribery. Ganduje and the others will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Federal High Court in Kano ruled that the Kano Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission lacks the power to investigate Ganduje over an alleged $5m bribery video. Justice Abdullahi Liman, while delivering his judgment, said the offence was a federal offence that could be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Justice Liman said the Kano anti-graft agency had a limitation in investigating the former governor. But on Monday, the state governor, Abba Yusuf, urged the EFCC to release the result of its probe into the alleged dollar bribery video involving Ganduje. Yusuf, in a statement by his spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, said Ganduje should rather prepare to face his trial instead of talking about non-existent failure in the current administration. “For whatever option, the Kano State Government would advise the acting National Chairman of APC to show cause why his name, that of his family, and the entire people of Kano should permanently be erased from the global embarrassment that the dollar video has generated,” he said. However, in a writ of summon sighted by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the Kano State Government, in a criminal suit, named Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lesage General Enterprises as respondents and assembled 15 witnesses to appear before the court. The case is fixed for April 17, 2024, before Justice Usman Na’aba of the state High Court Number Four. Confirming the development to Daily Trust, the state Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, said the case has been filed, and all parties involved will be served accordingly. “It is very true. We have filed the case, but I cannot confirm whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served. What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day. It will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrent to all of us. “He was saying that we can’t prosecute him forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences. It’s not totally a federal affair,” he said.

  Fire has reportedly gutted the popular Dosunmu Market in Lagos Island. An X user, who shared a video from the scene, said the fire was due to a generator explosion on Tuesday. “Just in guys, Eko Idumota (Dosunmu) Market on fire due to generator explosion, and no firefighters in sight yet. “The fire keeps going up. People are running for safety”. However, the Nation observed firefighters were not in sight in the recorded video. Authorities have also not commented on the incident. Details shortly…

  A South African court on Tuesday allowed former president Jacob Zuma to run in May’s general elections, overturning an earlier decision by electoral authorities barring him over a previous conviction.   The electoral court ruled in favour of Zuma, 81, who is fronting uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new opposition party that has become a dark horse in the election race. “The decision of the Electoral Commission… is set aside,” the electoral court wrote in its ruling seen by AFP. It did not provide an explanation of how the verdict was reached. South Africa is to hold general elections on May 29 in what is expected to be the most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in 1994.   Zuma’s ability to run could be a key factor in the elections’ outcome. Banking on Zuma’s popularity, MK is expected to cut well into the vote share of the already embattled ruling African National Congress (ANC) — the ex-president’s former political home. This could precipitate the ANC towards its worst result in three decades, seeing it drop below 50 percent of the vote, short of a parliamentary majority.   The electoral commission had earlier excluded Zuma from the contest, arguing that the constitution bars anyone convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment from running from office. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail in June 2021 after refusing to testify to a panel probing financial corruption and cronyism under his presidency. AFP

  Men of the Adamawa State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old butcher, Ibrahim Abubakar, residing in Sabon Gari-Futy, Girei Local Government Area, for stabbing his 25-year-old wife, Hajara Sa’adu, to death. This was made known in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, and shared on the command’s X account on Tuesday. The statement said, “The Adamawa State Police Command on April 8 2024, apprehended a 33-year-old man for stabbing to death his 25-year-old wife Hajara Sa’adu. “The suspect, Ibrahim Abubakar, a butcher and resident of Sabon Gari-Futy in Girei Local Government Area subdued the deceased, by stabbing her severally with a sharp knife on her back thereby causing her severe injuries and left her in a pool of blood. “The suspect brutally killed the deceased on April 8, 2024 at about 04:30 am, after he accused her of taking away his phone that led to little argument. “The suspect was apprehended following the report made to the police by the father of the deceased and preliminary investigation conducted leading to the recovery of material evidence at the scene of the crime which is linked to him. “Interestingly, the suspect voluntarily made a confessional statement, adding that he regretted killing the mother of their only child.”

  The Federal Government has declared Thursday, April 11, 2024, as additional public holiday to commemorate Eid-el-Fitr. This was made known in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, shared on the ministry’s X account on Tuesday. The statement said, “The Federal Government has approved Thursday, April 11, 2024 as an additional public holiday to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr. “The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while congratulating the Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation, reiterates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive.” Saudi Arabia, on Monday, said the crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted, indicating that the fasting will continue on Tuesday. It also added that the Eid-el-Fitr would hold on Wednesday, April 10 to mark the beginning of the new Islamic month. The Federal Government had earlier Sunday declared Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9 and 10, 2024, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

  Tuesday 09 April 2024 Banks get three-month deadline to stop forex-backed loans Betta Edu: EFCC recovers N30bn, probes 50 bank accounts Emefiele returns to EFCC custody, faces fourth arraignment April 25 FG tackles mounting electricity debt, hikes tariff for Band A Sultan Declares Wednesday Eid-El-Fitr Celebrations CBN Stops Foreign Currency As Collateral For Naira Loans Former Rivers Gov Candidate ‘Arrested’, Two Aides Feared Killed CBN Sells $10,000 To Over 1,500 BDCs At N1,101/$ Edo Assembly Impeaches Philip Shaibu As Deputy Governor My Impeachment As Deputy Governor A Threat To Democracy – Shaibu Tinubu Approves Establishment Of National Health Fellows Programme Six Confirmed Dead In Ogun Road Crashes Okuama: March 14 killers wore military fatigues — eyewitness Nigeria’s inflation rate to remain high in 2024 — World Bank Oil-for-cash loan: Nigeria to get $1bn from Afreximbank Energy crisis: More problems for households, others as cooking gas price surges Sallah: Low Turnout In Markets Bandits Exchange Bullets In Katsina, Notorious Commander Killed LP convention: NLC disowns Abure-led NWC, sets up interim committee Don’t transact in dollars, EFCC warns hotels, others FG flags off distribution of 42,000 MT of grains Fed Govt deploys apps to monitor hministers’ performance Leave Abure alone, LP supporters tell Ajaero Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned hotels, schools, and supermarkets, amongst others against charging for services in Nigeria in dollars or any other foreign currency. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, TRIBUNE ONLINE gathered, disclosed this in the latest edition of the commission’s monthly e-magazine, released on Monday. The EFCC boss cautioned that anyone caught collecting dollars for services or goods would be treated as a criminal in accordance with relevant Nigerian laws. “We have also started securing convictions. Schools that charge Nigerians in dollars, supermarkets that trade in dollars, estate developers that sell their property in dollars, hotels that are invoicing in dollars, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area. “Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not, you will get that. “But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using the dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal. “Our law does not allow for that. And we have also effected some arrests,” Olukoyede explained.