EPI-WIN webinar: Immune response to SARS-CoV-2

Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2
THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VIRAL INFECTIONS AND SARS-COV-2
Wednesday 10th February, 2021
14.00-15.00 CET (Geneva), 18.30 Delhi, 08.00 New York

Dr Martin Friede will take us through the immune response to viral infections, such as SARS-COV-2. From the basics, what are the innate and adaptive immune response phases, to what we currently know about the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, re-infection, variants and immunity through vaccination.

Speaker: Dr. Martin Friede
Coordinator, Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR)
Immunization, Vaccines and Biologics (IVB)
World Health Organization

Q&A
Participants will be able to submit questions during the webinar by using Zoom’s “Q&A” feature.  You may also submit them in advance by sending them to Sarah Hess: epi-win@who.int
Register for the webinar here https://who-e.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9MUWWCWqRIun31ni1Kg2IQ
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Our mailing address is:
epi-win@who.int

How Overseas Auxiliary Nurses, Healthcare Assistants Can Travel To UK for Jobs

The UK government has opened her border to Auxiliary Nurses and Health Attendants (HCA) around the world as the country battles COVID-19. Auxiliary Nurses and Health Care Assistants has been added to Skilled Occupation Shortage list.

What does this mean?

This means auxiliary nurses, health attendants and registered nurses who are finding it difficult to pass IELTS/OET can easily secure work visa and come to UK to work as Health care assistant (hospital service).

Also, they will be exempted from paying for the Health Insurance Surcharge fees. They will also benefit from reduced visa fees announced by the UK government for Overseas Healthcare workers last year.

Where Can Healthcare Assistants work in UK?

Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) work in varieties of NHS hospital or community settings under the guidance of nurses, midwives, doctors and other healthcare professionals. The description varies based on their practice setting.

What is the job responsibility of a healthcare assistant?

The duty you perform as a healthcare assistant depends on your practice setting and might include duties according to UNISON:

  • observing, monitoring and recording patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight
  • communication with patients, relatives and carers
  • assisting with clinical duties
  • personal care including infection prevention and control, food, personal hygiene and overall reassurance, comfort and safety
  • promoting positive mental/physical/nutritional health with patients
  • checking and ordering supplies
  • Serving meals and helping to feed patients.
  • Helping people to move around.
  • Toileting.
  • Making beds.
  • Talking to patients and making them comfortable.
  • Monitoring patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight.

Qualification Requirements for Healthcare assistant

There are no set academic requirements to become a healthcare assistant in UK. Employers set the qualification standard and some may expect you to have good literacy and numeracy so you might be asked to produce evidence of completing secondary school education. Experience in healthcare setting may be an asset and most employer usually need someone with at least 1year experience as HCA.

How Can I Apply?

Health care assistant is not a regulated profession in UK and there is no formal qualification. All you need to do is to apply for jobs right away.

There are different ways by which overseas HCA can apply for Health Assistant jobs. You can apply directly to each hospital that is need of HCA or through agencies. Some recruitment agencies now recruit HCA from overseas to NHS. One popular agency recently posted picture of the first HCA from Asia country to be granted work permit under them. Note that employment is free in UK, you are not expected to pay any money. Any agency that ask you to pay before you can be employed is violating the law as NHS pay them millions to help employ you.

The second option is to apply by yourself to hospitals or care homes. Below are the websites where you can apply for healthcare assistant jobs in UK, register on them and start applying for jobs:

  1. Trac Job Portal https://apps.trac.jobs/
  2. NHS Job Portal https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
  3. Monster Job Portal https://www.monster.co.uk/
  4. Indeed Job Portal https://uk.indeed.com/?from=gnav-jobsearch–jasx
  5. Reed Job Portal https://www.reed.co.uk/
  6. Jobsite https://www.jobsite.co.uk/
  7. Total Jobs https://www.totaljobs.com/

You can also get jobs from LInkedin, Facebook among others

Common Healthcare Assistant Job Interview Questions

Below are the common HCA Questions:

Tell us about yourself

How would your boss describe you?

What things do you least like about work?

If a patient relative rings asking for test results, what do you do?

What do you think this job involves?

Talk about a time where you have had to deal with a difficult patient and what do you do?

A patient is very angry, what do you do?

A patient keeps ringing the buzzer in the middle of the night, what do you do?

Why might a patient be struggling to eat their food and what would you do to help them?

How do you feel about confidentiality?

How do you feel about equality?

How would you make a difference in a team?

What skills do you have?

What Next after the interview?

You will likely be successful or otherwise in the interview. If you are not, keep looking for other job interviews.

For those who are successful during the interview, they would receive an offer letter stating their contract terms and conditions. Contract terms in most NHS is 3years. The terms will contain the list of documents you are needed to submit in order for the offer of appointment to be valid. It will also contain your yearly salary, your work hours a week which is usually 37.5hours, etc

After you sign the offer letter, your employer will begin to process of Certificate of Sponsorship popularly called COS.

After the issuance of COS the next thing is for you to apply for Visa. I will discuss extensively on this in my next step.

School of Midwifery UBTH Admission into Basic Midwifery 2021/2022 Session

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for Admission into the School of Midwifery, UBTH Benin City for the 1st stream 2021 session.

DURATION OF COURSE- THREE (3) YEARS

a. Entry Qualification: Applicant must not be less than 18 years or above 34 years of age

b. Possess five (5) credits O’level in not more than two sitting in WAEC, NECO or NABTEB which must include, English language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Application forms are obtainable from the office of the Principal/Head of Department (School of Midwifery) on presentation of evidence of payment of:

  • Payment of a non-refundable fee of Ten Thousand, Five Hundred Naira(N10,500) only payable to UBTH Account with TSA under the service type: Training School of Midwifery using REMITA platform in any bank in Nigeria.
  • Payment of Two Hundred (200) Naira into Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria State Committee account — First Bank 2004854377

NOTE:

  1. Sales of forms commence January 2021.
  2. All forms must be purchased from the office of the Principal/Head of School, School of Midwifery, UBTH.
  3. Be informed that UBTH does not sell the School of Midwifery application forms online.
  4. Candidates will be responsible for their accommodation and feeding during the examination period.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORM

Completed application forms should be submitted to the institution before the date of entrance examination.

Date of Entrance Exam: Saturday 20th March 2021.

Venue: School of Midwifery, UBTH, Benin City

Signed:

Joshua Uwaila, Esq.,

Head, Public Relations Unit

For: Chief Medical Director

Nurses Mental Health During Covid-19: Nurses may themselves become patients due to trauma, depression of fighting Covid-19

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) is urging the government to pay attention to the International Council of Nurses’ latest report on mass trauma experienced by the global nursing workforce.

As the country battled the second wave of Covid-19, Denosa called on the government to pay special attention to the latest report by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) which highlighted mass trauma that was experienced by the global nursing workforce, including South African nurses, as they fought the pandemic, said Cassim Lekhoathi, the acting general secretary.

Denosa feared that, as the country was in the middle of the second wave and looked set for a third, it might not be long before all its health-care workers became patients themselves, due to the trauma, anxiety and depression they were going through, he said.

The report, which gathered information from nurses from ICN member-countries like South Africa until the end of last month, gives insight into how the pandemic has brought mass trauma onto the nursing workforce and also highlights the importance of protecting the front-line caregivers.

It also gives insight into how policy-developers in governments, healthcare facilities and health organisations can deliver on their responsibility to support and strengthen the nursing workforce, which is the backbone of health systems.

The report found that, at the end of last month:

The nursing workforce lost 2 262 nurses to Covid-19 in 59 countries, which is a conservative total, given poor reporting and recording of deaths of health-care workers. More than 1.6 million health-care workers have been infected in 34 countries.

Overall, an average of 10% of Covid19 infections are among health-care workers.

In many countries, nurses were the biggest health-care worker group to contract Covid-19.

In Iran, 45% of the nursing workforce contracted Covid-19 as 60 000 nurses were infected. In Mexico, 21% of its workforce contracted Covid-19.

Lekhoathi said nurses in South African had complained to Denosa about burnout, anxiety, depression and trauma as they were faced with the increasing number of admissions.

They were also experiencing trauma, anxiety and depression due to: ¡ A shortage of staff because of the Treasury’s “ruthless” budget cuts in provincial departments. Abnormally-high infection and death rates among their colleagues. ¡ A lack of rest (many leave applications were declined).

¡ A lack of psychological support from the employer (many have to seek psychological support out of their own pockets).

¡ An increase in medical schemes premiums and inflation while their salaries have not been adjusted since April last year.

The Star

NCDC Accredited Covid-19 Test Centers In Nigeria For Travellers

For those travelling out of Nigeria and need COVID-19 test, below is the list of all NCDC approved covid-19 test centers in Lagos, Abuja and all States in the federation

S/NLABORATORYSTATETESTING PLATFORMTYPE OF LABPUBLIC OR PRIVATE
1State Specialist Hospital, AmacharaAbiaGxpertStatePublic
2State Specialist Hospital, AmacharaOpen PCRStatePublic
3Federal Medical Centre, YolaAdamawaOpen PCRFederalPublic
4Akwa Ibom State Molecular LaboratoryAkwa IbomOpen PCRStatePublic
5COOUTH Awka Abbott LaboratoryAnambraAbbottStatePublic
6General Hospital, OnitshaGxpertStatePublic
7Bauchi Molecular LaboratoryBauchiOpen PCRStatePublic
8Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Laboratory, BauchiOpen PCRFederalPublic
9Bayelsa Molecular LaboratoryBayelsaOpen PCRStatePublic
10161 Nigeria Airfoce Reference Hospital LaboratoryBenueGxpertMilitaryPublic
11University of Maiduguri Teaching HospitalBornoOpen PCRFederalPublic
12University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarCross RiverGxpertFederalPublic
13Lawrence Henshaw, CalabarGxpertStatePublic
14Delta Mobile LaboratoryDeltaOpen PCRStatePublic
15Federal Medical Centre, AsabaGxpertFederalPublic
16Delta State Molecular Laboratory, WarriOpen PCRFederalPublic
17Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching HospitalEbonyiOpen PCRFederalPublic
18Irua Specialist Teaching HospitalEdoOpen PCRFederalPublic
19University of Benin Teaching HospitalOpen PCRFederalPublic
2054 GeneEkitiOpen PCRPrivatePublic
21University of Nigeria Teaching HospitalEnuguGxpertFederalPublic
22University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital LabOpen PCRFederalPublic
23NCDC National Reference LaboratoryFCTCorbas/Open PCR/GxpertFederalPublic
24Defense Reference LaboratoryCorbasMilitaryPublic
25State House Annex Clinic – NIAOpen PCRFederalPublic
26UN IOM ClinicGxpertUNPublic
27University of Abuja Teaching HospitalGxpertFederalPublic
28University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Molecular LaboratoryOpen PCRFederalPublic
29Federal Medical Centre, OwerriImoGxpertFederalPublic
30Jigawa Molecular LaboratoryJigawaOpen PCRStatePublic
31Ahmadu Bello UniversityKadunaOpen PCRFederalPublic
32Yusuf Dansoho Memorial HospitalGxpertStatePublic
33Barau Diko Teaching HospitalGxpertStatePublic
34Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa General HospitalGxpertStatePublic
35General Hospital, SaminakaGxpertStatePublic
36Aminu Kano Teaching HospitalKanoOpen PCRFederalPublic
3754 GeneOpen PCRPrivatePublic
38Bayero University, KanoOpen PCRFederalPublic
39Federal Medical Centre, Birnin KebbiKebbiGxpertFederalPublic
40State Specialist Hospital, KogiKogiGxpertStatePublic
41Sobi Specialist HospitalKwaraOpen PCRStatePublic
42Lagos University Teaching HospitalLagosOpen PCRstatePublic
43NCDC Central Public Health LabortaoryOpen PCRFederalPublic
44UN IOM ClinicGxpertUNPublic
45Nigeria Navy Reference HospitalGxpertMilitaryPublic
46Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)Corbas/Open PCRFederalPublic
47Lagos State Biobank LaboratoryOpen PCRStatePublic
48Zankli HospitalNasarawaGxpertStatePublic
49Nasarawa State Public Health Diagnostics LaboratoryOpen PCRStatePublic
50Federal Medical Centre, KeffiGxpertFederalPublic
51GX Mobile Laboratory (WOW Truck)NationalGxpertFederalPublic
52Niger State Public Health Laboratory, MinnaNigerOpen PCRStatePublic
53FMC BidaGeneXpert labFederalPublic
5454 GeneOgunOpen PCRPrivatePublic
55OOUTH Afriglobal Medicare, OgunOpen PCRStatePublic
56Molecular and Tissue Culture Laboratory, Babcock University Teaching HospitalOpen PCRPrivatePublic
57Federal Medical Centre, OwoOndoOpen PCRFederalPublic
58African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious DiseasesOsunOpen PCRFederalPublic
59Osun State University, LaboratoryOpen PCRStatePublic
60University College Hospital, Virology Department LaboratoryOyoOpen PCRFederalPublic
61Biorepository and Clinical Virology Laboratory, UCHOpen PCRFederalPublic
62National Verterinary Research InstitutePlateauOpen PCRFederalPublic
63Plateau State Human Virology Research Center (PLASVIREC)AbbottStatePublic
64Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)GxpertStatePublic
65University of Port Harcourt Teaching HospitalRiversOpen PCRFederalPublic
66Rivers State University Teaching HospitalOpen PCRStatePublic
67University of Port Harcourt Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources ResearchOpen PCRFederalPublic
68Infectious Disease Laboratory, Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, SokotoSokotoOpen PCRStatePublic
69Taraba State Specialist Hospital, JalingoTarabaGxpertStatePublic
70General Hospital, TakumGxpertStatePublic
71General Sani Abacha State Specialist Hospital, YobeYobeAbbottStatePublic
72Federal Medical Center, GusauZamfaraGxpertFederalPublic

60,000 Nurses infected with coronavirus in Iran

Iran said on Thursday that around 60,000 nurses have contracted the coronavirus across the country, including 100 of them losing their lives, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to the Iranian ISNA news agency, head of the Nurses Association Mohammad Mirzabeigi said that out of 145,000 nurses across the country, around 60,000 of them have so far contracted the novel coronavirus.

“Currently, there are 6,000 nurses in quarantine centers, while the number of deaths [among the nurses] has reached 100.” Mirzabeigi added.

Since the first case was reported on Feb. 19, the number of coronavirus infections in Iran has reached 1,138,550 with 53,093 fatalities.

WHO 2021 Midwifery Network Webinar Recordings and Upcoming Webinar Information

  • ssor Address Mauakowa Malata, PhD, MSc, BSC, FAAN, Vice-Chancellor of Malawi University of Science and Technology, Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University and Baylor College of Medicine – Presentation topic: Midwifery-led Continuity of Care
  • Mgr. Natalie Sedlická, MSc, Midwife, a board member of the Association for Birth Houses and Centres (APODAC), contributor to the pilot project of a midwife-led birth centre in Prague – Presentation topic: Midwife-led Birth Centres in Czech Republic – Challenges and Opportunities
  • Dr. Lucia Rocca-Ihenacho, PhD, MSc, RM, Lecturer & Researcher at the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London – Presentation topic: Midwifery Unit Network: Supporting the Implementation and Improvement of Midwifery Units

The presenters’ slides are attached. 
All of the past WHO CC Midwifery Network webinar recordings can be found here: https://jhuson.mediaspace.kaltura.com/channel/GANM/187816113 Recordings are in both English and Spanish. 
Upcoming webinars and links for their registration are here: 
3/17/21: The Quality of Care Network and Midwifery: https://jhuson.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sAKO_J_kQpupQ0eHjIpPGA
4/28/21: Leadership in Midwifery: Claiming and Sustaining a Place at the Table: https://jhuson.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7MUUdoqtT8-gadH58Rm3Cg

Webinar: Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study of under-five mortality, 10 February 2021

What is Verbal and Social Autopsy?


‘Verbal autopsy of deaths uses retrospective interviews with caregivers to document and understand the symptoms and signs of the fatal illness. It is a useful tool to estimate the causes of deaths in a specific population with poor vital registration or medical certification of the causes of deaths. Verbal autopsy has been widely used in household surveys, demographic surveillance sites, vital registration systems and special studies. Social autopsy builds on verbal autopsy by studying the setting, and sequence of decisions and events that leads to death. The focus of social autopsy is to understand the decision-making, care-seeking and actual care that preceded death, to provide insight into social determinants of death and how deaths might be prevented.’
https://www.harpnet.org/project/2019-nigeria-verbal-and-social-autopsy/

Webinar: Nigeria 2019 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study of under-five mortality

VASA Feb 10 webinar announcement.jpg (0.1MB) : https://knowledge-gateway.org/_/vh3lrcqw.wgh50zyv

The USAID Health Research Program welcomes you to attend an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, February 10 at 9:00 am EST and 3:00 PM WAT. The Nigeria 2019 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study of under-five mortality was implemented by the National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), with technical support from the USAID Coordinating Implementation Research to Communicate Learning and Evidence (CIRCLE) project. The study was officially completed and disseminated by NPC and FMOH in November 2020, at both national and regional levels, with high media coverage. The purpose of this webinar is to share the process that resulted in high stakeholder ownership of the study, key findings, and recommendations for action.

Register for the webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e0AdFZhVTMGVeJ96vv54_g

UAE Announces Citizenship for Doctors, Nurses, Other Professionals

In an unprecedented move the UAE has approved amendments to her citizenship law allowing doctors, investors, professionals, special talents and their families to acquire the Emirati nationality and passport after meeting stipulated certain.

Who is qualified and what are the conditions?

The following are the list of qualified professionals and the conditions they are expected to meet

Investors

Foreign nationals who are interested in obtaining an Emirati citizenship must own a property in the UAE.

Doctors and Specialists

Foreign doctors who want need to be specialised in a unique scientific discipline or in any other specialties that are highly required in the UAE. The applicant must have acknowledged scientific contributions, studies and research of scientific value and a practical experience of not less than 10 years, in addition to obtaining membership in a reputable organisation in his field of specialisation according to Newspapers publications

Scientists

Those who are in the academic field are required to be active researchers in a university or research centre or in the private sector, with a practical experience of not less than 10 years in the same field. According to the set conditions, they are also expected to have contributions in the scientific field such as winning a prestigious scientific award, or securing substantial funding for their research during the past 10 years. It is also mandatory to obtain a recommendation letter from recognised scientific institutions in the UAE according to Newspapers.

Inventors

Inventors are required to obtain one or more patents that are approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy or any other reputable international body, in addition to a recommendation letter from the Economy Ministry.

Creative talents

Intellectuals and artists should be pioneers in the culture and art fields and winners of one or more international award(s). A recommendation letter from related government entities is mandatory as well.

Other requirements

In case one qualifies, other requirements include swearing the oath of allegiance; committing to abide by the Emirati laws; and officially informing the respective government agency in case of acquiring or losing any other citizenship.

Can the citizenship be withdrawn?

As per the amendments, the citizenship can be withdrawn upon breach of the conditions.

Can one retain his/her original citizenship?

Yes, you are allowed to hold your home country passport

Can a resident apply for citizenship?

Acquiring the Emirati citizenship will be done through nominations from Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Executive Councils, and the Cabinet based on federal entities nominations.

What are the benefits?

The UAE citizenship offers a wide range of benefits, including the right to establish or own commercial entities and properties.

Credit: Khaleej Times