Capital Health

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been in self-isolation after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, said Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman.

NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 7 –Kenya has welcomed the approval of the Malaria vaccine by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Ministry of Health said the approval of  the use of RTS/AS01 malaria vaccine among children in Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions is a big step in combating the disease.

On Wednesday, the WHO said the recommendation was based on results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya’s Kisumu region and Malawi that has reached more than 800,000 children since 2019.

NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 7 – The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday endorsed the widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in Sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission.

The recommendation is based on results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800,000 children since 2019.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1- Kenya recorded 152 new COVID-19 infections Monday, raising cases in the country to 106,125 ahead of vaccines arrival.

The country was expected to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday to start vaccinating healthcare workers and others on the frontline like security forces.

“We expect vaccines on Tuesday,” said Mutahi Kagwe, Health Cabinet Secretary who urged the public to remain vigilant and observe protocols issued by the ministry.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi on Monday ordered the immediate arrest of adults responsible for teenage pregnancies in Trans Nzoia County.

Over 10,000 teenage girls are reported to have been impregnated, which is the highest number in the country to have been recorded in single county.

The CS further banned overnight traditional funeral ceremonies commonly known as ‘disco matanga,’ which provide a fertile ground for adults to prey on teenage girls, with immediate effect.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1 – Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA) has petitioned the Ministry of Health to uphold the ban on nicotine pouches including Lyft which is considered highly addictive.

Health Cabinet Secretary had on October 2020  declared the registration of the Lyft nicotine pouches in Kenya illegal directing the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to deregister them but later allowed sale of the products on condition that they are registered as tobacco products.

Talks to review the ban with the aim of rescinding it are ongoing.

Johannesburg, South Africa, March 1 – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said the country will start relaxing coronavirus restrictions, moving from alert level three down to level one, after a “dramatic decline” in infections.

The easing of the measures, due to begin at midnight, will see most economic activity resume as the country moves to rebuild its virus-shattered economy. 

[Additional reporting by Njoki Kihiu in Nairobi].

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 28 – Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Sunday that the much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the country on Tuesday even as 325 new infections were recorded.

The new cases were detected from a sample size of 3,282 raising the total caseload in the country to 105, 973.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 – Kenya recorded 181 COVID-19 cases on Saturday marking a 3.2 per cent positivity rate compared to 5 per cent reported on Friday and 6 per cent on Thursday.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the new cases were identified from 5, 577 samples which were tested from Friday.

Kenya has so far conducted 1, 295, 556 tests since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

Nairobi County produced the majority of the new infections after posting 104 cases followed by Kiambu which had 20 cases.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 – The Ministry of Health on Friday reported 410 new COVID-19 cases detected from 7,180 samples.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe pointed out that 368 of the new cases were reported among Kenyans while 42 were foreigners among them 276 males and 134 females.

The CS further said that a year-old and an 83-year-old were among the new cases.

He announced that 6 more patients had succumbed to the virus, raising fatalities to 1,853.