The spread of Covid-19 is currently low in Tunisia and throughout the world, despite the drop in the uptake of preventive measures by citizens,” Director General of the National Pharmacovigilance Centre and member of the scientific committee to combat Coronavirus Riadh Daghfous indicated on Friday.
In an interview with TAP, he said that February had seen a fall in the number of Covid-19 infections, and that on average only one case of death had been reported per week, adding that Covid-19 has not yet been classified as a seasonal disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Since the beginning of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in Tunisia (March 2020), some 30,000 fatalities have been recorded, he recalled.
He also called on citizens to carry on getting vaccinated against Covid-19, especially the most vulnerable categories (the elderly, pregnant women, etc…), pointing out that the administration of vaccines in previous years has helped citizens build up an immune defence against the Omicron va
riant.
As far as respiratory diseases are concerned, Daghfous explained that seasonal influenza is the most widespread virus in Tunisia this winter, followed by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or bronchiolitis in second place, the Rhinovirus (third) and then Sars Cov 2 (Coronavirus 2) (fourth).
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Deputy Minister, Nokuzola Tolashe, has called for the socio-economic empowerment of women, youth, and people with disabilities to end gender-based violence (GBV).
‘Socio-economic challenges for women, youth and persons with disabilities remain persistent to this day and it is for the same reason that the department calls for 40% preferential procurement in the public sector,’ Tolashe said.
She made the remarks after President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address, which highlighted myriad achievements — while acknowledging the work that is still to be done — after 30 years of democracy.
Tolashe said South Africa, like many other developing countries, continues to wrestle with the challenges of unemployment and structural economic marginalisation, insufficient skills development, high levels of violence, teenage pregnancies, and substance abuse.
She said these continue to hinder government’s progress in addressing the persistent triple chall
enge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The Deputy Minister said through the mainstreaming of women’s rights and advocacy, the department has over the years been able to coordinate and facilitate interventions to support economic empowerment and economic ownership for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
The mainstreaming of women’s rights and advocacy include promoting good governance regarding the rights and transformation of social and economic empowerment of women, among others.
‘It is important that women, youth, and persons with disabilities, must enjoy equal access to adequate financing to start and scale their businesses, increase their incomes, and contribute to the country’s economy.
‘It is through the department’s strategic outputs that the empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities continues to be at the centre of the national economic agenda,’ Tolashe said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: South African Government News Agency