Health

Argentina follows Trump’s lead and withdraws from the WHO

Published

2 months ago

February 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

World Health Organization

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Argentina has followed in the footsteps of Donald Trump by dramatically announcing that it will pull out of the World Health Organization.

The move echoes President Trump’s executive order unveiled last month, which declared America would no longer be part of the international health body.

Argentina’s announcement was made during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon by the country’s presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni.

Mr Adorni said President Javier Milei’s decision was based on ‘deep differences regarding health management especially during the [Covid-19] pandemic’, adding Argentina would not ‘allow an international body to interfere in our sovereignty’.

He said the WHO’s pandemic management, along with decisions made by former President Alberto Fernández, ‘led [Argentina] to the longest lockdown in human history’ and to Buenos Aires being subject to ‘certain countries’ political influence’.

President Trump last move said he withdrew America from the WHO because he believes the US was being ripped off by the organization, describing the federal government’s overpayments over the years as ‘onerous’.

He compared the $500 million the US contributes to the WHO each year to the $39 million Chinapays, despite China’s 1.4 billion population being over four times that of the US.

Trump said withdrawing from the WHO, one of his first executive orders signed within hours of his inauguration on Monday, was due to a ‘failure to adopt urgently needed reforms.’

The President had previously has repeatedly called the health body a puppet of Beijing for failing to hold China accountable for the early spread of Covid-19.

Argentina is following the USA and cutting ties with the World Health Organization (file image)

Trump made withdrawing from the WHO one of the first moves in his return to the White House

America’s withdrawal from the WHO marked a dramatic shift in US global health policy and could further isolate Washington from international efforts to battle pandemics.

The departure also denies the healthy body of its biggest donor with the US providing the WHO with about 16 per cent of its funding in 2022-23.

The move came four years after Trump first attempted to withdraw from the health body during the Covid-19 pandemic, a move that was ultimately blocked by Joe Biden after the 2020 election.

Withdrawing from the WHO was one of a raft of executive orders signed by Trump in his first week, alongside placing all DEI employees in the federal government on leave, rescinding 78 Biden-era executive orders, and releasing classified documents related to the assassinations of JFK and MLK Jr.

Speaking at the time of the US President’s announcement, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha said Trump’s team wanted to move faster this time around than four years ago.

‘There are lots of people who are going to be part of the inner circle of the administration who do not trust the WHO and want to symbolically show on day one that they are out,’ he told the Financial Times.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow.

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Health

Katsina targets three million children for polio immunisation — Official

Published

22 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Polio-Victims

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The Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCA) says it is targeting not less than three million children during the polio immunisation campaign scheduled for 26 -29 April.

Its Executive Secretary, Shamsudeen Yahaya, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a media dialogue with UNICEF, Katsina State Government officials and partners on polio and routine immunisation in the state.

Mr Yahaya said the exercise was aimed at creating awareness of the importance of immunisation in saving children from preventable deaths.

He, therefore, urged the media to continue to enlighten caregivers and other stakeholders on the importance of immunisation.

He revealed that the state has 1,636 health facilities providing routine immunisation services for children.

Mr Yahaya said the government would engage 3,700 independent monitors to ensure that each eligible child is reached during the campaign.

In his remarks, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), also the Nutrition Manager of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Karanveer Singh, stressed the need to immunise every child against polio and other deadly diseases.

Mr Singh revealed that polio is highly infectious, warning, “Once a child is infected with the virus, he or she is permanently paralysed.”

The officer explained that every round of immunisation is important, as is immunising every child until the virus is completely eradicated.

He added that immunisation is the backbone of any eradication programme, hence the need for caregivers and other stakeholders to intensify efforts in ensuring that all children below five years are fully immunised.

Health

We must stop contaminating our rivers and streams in the name of ‘odinani’ (tradition)—- Gov Chukwuma Soludo ‎

Published

4 days ago

April 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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‎In a recent address to All Progressives Grand Alliance supporters in Awka, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo raised concerns about pollution of local streams and rivers by native doctors during rituals. He stated, “We must stop contaminating our rivers and streams in the name of ‘odinani’ (tradition). Many depend on that water for drinking and cooking.”
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‎According to Daily Trust, Governor Soludo urged practitioners to be responsible, saying, “If you must perform rituals, use a container—like a bucket—and carry out your practices there. Do not pollute our public water sources.” He emphasized that polluted water can lead to serious health issues, declaring that “we do not want that for our communities.”
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‎He addressed the backlash from a crackdown on native doctors suspected of criminal behavior: “I am not targeting legitimate traditional worshipers but those who defraud and deceive people.” His aim is to eliminate fraudulent actors while respecting cultural practices.
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‎He highlighted the need for balance: “We can embrace our traditions while ensuring the safety and health of our communities.”
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Health

NAFDAC Begins Gradual Reopening of Shops at Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha

Published

6 days ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced the gradual reopening of shops at the Ogbo-Ogwu drug market in Onitsha.

This development follows the agency’s closure of the market on February 10, 2025, due to concerns over the sale and distribution of counterfeit, unregistered, and substandard drugs.

The unsealing exercise is being led by a Deputy Director of NAFDAC, Mr. Tunji Omoyemi.

According to NAFDAC, traders whose shops meet the required safety and documentation standards are being cleared to resume business operations.

Addressing the traders, the market chairman, Mr. Ndubuisi Chukwulota, urged full cooperation with the agency to facilitate the swift resumption of commercial activities.