South Africa’s Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuZulu passed away on Friday.
Inkatha Freedom Party founder and traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarchy and Nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, confirmed the news in a statement issued Friday.
“It is with the utmost grief that I inform the nation of the passing of His Majesty,” Buthelezi said in the statement.
Buthelezi said the king’s health worsened after being admitted to an intensive care unit in a private hospital recently.
“Tragically, while still in hospital, his majesty’s health took a turn for the worse and he subsequently passed away.”
Buthelezi thanked people for their continued support and prayers provided to the family.
“On behalf of the Royal Family, we thank the nation for your continued prayers in this difficult time.”
King Zwelithini was born on July 14, 1948, in KwaZulu-Natal.
He was appointed to the throne after his father’s death in 1968, when he was just a 20-year-old student at the time.
He made history as the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu Kingdom – with a reign spanning over five decades. (Xinhua/NAN)
Lagos begins Covid-19 vaccination, sets up 88 centres
The Lagos state government has commenced its Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccination programme, while setting up 88 centres for administration of the vaccine to enhance the immunity and health of its citizens.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during a media briefing on the Official Rollout, Distribution and Administration of Covid-19 vaccines in Lagos on Friday.
Abayomi said the commencement of the vaccine at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, would involve inoculation of the governor, members of his cabinet and some frontline healthcare workers.
He said three centres namely; IDH Yaba, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, would begin vaccination on Friday for frontline health care workers.
He said that the other centres spread across various local government areas of the state would start their vaccination on Monday.
The commissioner listed those qualified to be inoculated in the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout as medical personnel, police, military, and judiciary and port health officials.
He said an online portal would be opened to facilitate easy registration for the vaccine, advising those not listed in the priority list not to register.
He further said the AstraZeneca vaccine has two doses, with the second dose taking up to 12 weeks apart from the first dose.
“After the first dose, you will have 60 per cent protection and up to 80 per cent after the second dose.
“Note that you might still contract Covid-19 after vaccination, but the level of severity might not be much after achieving this level of immunity,” he said.
Also, the executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and advised residents against hesitancy.
Represented by a director in the agency, Mrs. Omar Oto, he assured residents of the availability of the vaccines as the federal government was scheduled to receive more vaccines in May.
(NAN)