By Asmau Ahmad
The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were recorded globally in one week.
The WHO DG disclosed this at a virtual media briefing on global health issues monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday.
Though, he said hospitalisations and deaths have declined, 10,000 deaths a week is too many for a preventable disease.
In Nigeria, 266,583 COVID-19 cases and 3,155 deaths were recorded across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of February 10, 2023.
According to Ghebreyesus, “Last week, around 10,000 deaths were reported to WHO, which is similar to the number of weekly deaths reported prior to last month’s increase.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: 10 thousand deaths a week is 10 thousand too many, for a disease that can be prevented and treated.
“Subvariants of Omicron remain dominant globally, and remain a cause of concern, given their increased transmissibility and the fact that all subvariants can kill.
“We have the tools to save lives and end COVID-19 as a global health emergency this year. We must continue to use them all, and use them well.”
Globally, there have been 756,135,075 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6,841,152 deaths, reported to WHO as of February 14.
On the Syria earthquake, he said survivors are now facing freezing conditions without adequate shelter, heating, food, clean water, or medical care.
“I saw neighbours supporting each other with bedding, clothes, and food; I saw health workers providing medicines and consultations; I met WHO’s teams – who themselves are affected by the earthquake – to hear about the work they are doing; and I visited health centres, where I saw how even before this disaster, more than a decade of war has left the health system unable to cope with an emergency like this.
“As we drove from Aleppo to Damascus, I saw the legacy of conflict, with town after town destroyed and abandoned. Survivors are now facing freezing conditions without adequate shelter, heating, food, clean water, or medical care.
“WHO is providing care to survivors with injuries and disabilities sustained in the earthquake; hypothermia; mental health and psychosocial needs; the increased risk of infectious diseases, and the range of regular health needs.”
The WHO boss, however, noted that the agency shipped medicines and supplies to Turkey and Syria to support care for more than half a million people, including for urgent surgery.
