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Bangladesh building fire kills 46, injures dozens

Bangladesh building fire kills 46, injures dozens

A massive fire in Bangladesh that raged through a six-storey building home to restaurants where many families with children were dining has killed at least 46 people and injured dozens, the health minister said. Fire authorities said a gas leak or a stove could have caused Thursday's blaze in the capital, which spread quickly after breaking out in a biryani restaurant, and was only brought under control following two hours of effort by 13 units of firefighters. Hospitals were treating 22 people with burns, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen told reporters. "All 22 people ... are in critical condition," Sen,…
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Uganda declares itself Ebola-free

Uganda declares itself Ebola-free

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA UGANDA declared the end of a nearly four-month Ebola outbreak that it briefly struggled to contain but was then able to swiftly bring under control despite the absence of a proven vaccine against the viral strain in question. "We have successfully controlled the spread of Ebola in Uganda," Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said during a ceremony to mark the outbreak's end. Aceng said this was Uganda's eighth Ebola outbreak since 2000 when the country recorded its first and most deadly one that killed more than half of the 425 people it infected. The latest outbreak killed 55…
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Tunisian army to take over COVID-19 management

Tunisian army to take over COVID-19 management

TUNISIAN President Kais Saied has announced that the military health department will take over management of the health crisis in the country amid a COVID-19 outbreak - an escalation of a battle that overpowers the prime minister. Tunisia is struggling to cope with a resurgence of the virus, with intensive care wards full and doctors overburdened by a rapid rise in cases and deaths and a lack of oxygen supplies. Saied's comments come after Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi sacked Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi on Tuesday amid an exchange of accusations over performance in the fight against the pandemic and the…
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‘Mkhize matter will be dealt with’

‘Mkhize matter will be dealt with’

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, under pressure to act against Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who has been implicated in a R150-million scandal, has asked the public to allow for due process to run its course before he acts. In remarks delivered during his encounter with the media yesterday, Ramaphosa promised that the matter would not be swept under the carpet. The SA president has been under pressure to act against Mkhize who has allegedly benefitted from a company that won the R150-million. Yesterday, the Democratic Alliance, laid criminal charges against the Health Minister. Ramaphosa said: “This…
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South Africa’s vaccine compensation fund could cost $17.5 million in first year

South Africa’s vaccine compensation fund could cost $17.5 million in first year

THE South African government's compensation fund to cover potential injuries from COVID-19 vaccines could cost around 250 million rands ($17.5 million) in the first year, the health minister said in response to questions in parliament. The African country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of infections and deaths told vaccine manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer it would set up the fund during negotiations to buy shots. "A contingent liability of approximately R250 million for the first year would be provided for compensation of vaccine injury in a COVID-19 Vaccine NFC (no-fault compensation) Fund," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize…
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South Africa aims to vaccinate 1.1 million

South Africa aims to vaccinate 1.1 million

SOUTH Africa aims to vaccinate around 1.1 million people against COVID-19 by the end of March as it ramps up its immunisation programme, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said yesterday. Addressing parliament, Mkhize also said authorities might have to inoculate more than their original target of 40 million people to reach herd immunity. The country, hit far harder by the pandemic than any other in Africa, started rolling out Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) vaccine last week in a research study targeting healthcare workers. It hopes to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine soon. Mkhize said so far more than 32,000 health…
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South Africa secures vaccines for 26 million people

South Africa secures vaccines for 26 million people

SOUTH Africa has secured enough COVID-19 vaccines for at least 26 million people, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize disclosed yesterday. Africa's most industrialised economy aims to vaccinate 40 million people, or two-thirds of its population, to reach herd immunity. It has recorded the most coronavirus infections and deaths on the African continent, and received its first shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India this week. A health ministry presentation said the government had signed a term sheet for 9 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine at $10 a dose. One of the conditions for J&J's vaccine was the establishment of…
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Zambia health minister denies corruption charges in court

Zambia health minister denies corruption charges in court

ZAMBIA'S Health Minister on Thursday appeared before a Lusaka magistrate and denied four counts of corruption involving the alleged purchase of business shares and property with suspected proceeds of crime. This was the first time Chitalu Chilufya, 47, was asked to enter a plea in court since his arrest by the anti-corruption agency last month. He faces up to five years in jail if convicted. Chilufya's arrest is a test of the Zambian government's willingness to keep a promise to tackle graft amidst increased scrutiny by foreign holders of the country's massive debt. The charges against Chilufya cover the period…
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