Showing posts with label HEALTH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEALTH. Show all posts

Gov. Abiodun Summons Education Adviser, Soyombo, Health Commissioner Over N25,000 Covid-19 Test Payment

Apparently disgruntled by the rave of public outcry against the outrageous amount slammed on Private Schools Students by the State Ministry of Education, the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has summoned the Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker to his office this morning. 

A top official in the ministry of education informed that the governor was angry over the ugly development which has further crippled the popularity of his administration.

She claimed the governor was unaware of the levy on private secondary school students for covid-19 test on the state.

The impeccable source who pleaded anonymity confided in our reporter that, the subsidized N25,000 for the covid-19 test by private primary and secondary schools students was solely the decision of the Special Adviser and some top Directors of the Ministry of Education. 

The source further hinted that payment for treatment of Covid-19 can only be approved at the State Executive Council meeting and such decision should have been announced by the governor himself in his last Thursday update on covid-19. 

"My brother, the governor is not happy about this development at all, most especially when he knew nothing about the said N25,000 charge on secondary school students. 

"How can a reasonable government impose such amount as a levy on secondary school students in this current situation when all businesses have been affected due to covid-19. When people of the state can barely eat three square of a meal. It is uncalled for and so unfortunate we are having this kind of situation in the state. 

"But this will be so because the majority of those appointed by the governor are not professionals and grassroots. Soyombo herself, where is she from? These people are just brought in from Lagos and abroad to come and rule without feeling the pains of the people. They believe all fingers are equal and everybody can live the kind of expensive lives they lived. 

"But I can tell you that, something will be done soonest over the matter as the governor has summoned the Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education in the state, Ronke Soyombo and I learnt the Commissioner of Health has also be invited by the governor as well. 

"Maybe after their meeting with the governor this morning, you press guys might be invited for a press conference by the governor himself or a press release will be issued by the CPS to the Governor. So, let's wait and see what happen next. Thank you".

It would be recalled that crisis brewed out in the state on Sunday following the instruction by the state ministry of education directing all secondary school students preparing for WAEC to undergone covid-19 test ahead of reopening of schools on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

The visibly angry parents in a viral video slammed the state governor and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker for inflicting more hardship on them following economic downturn as a result of the global pandemic which has affected many businesses to crumble. 

The parents who protested against the government's decision to charge the sum of N25,000 on each student before testing them for covid-19 queried why the government would impose levy on students of private schools while their counterparts in public schools were tested free.

Doctors to commence strike over hazard allowances, salary shortfall

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to resume its suspended industrial action on August 17 if the federal government does not meet its demand.

The association gave the ultimatum on Saturday in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting and scientific conference in Gombe.

“The association resolved to extend the suspension of her strike action by three weeks to give government time to address her demands.

“Failure to adequately address these concerns will leave the association with no choice than to resume the suspended strike on Monday the 17th of August 2020,” NARD said in the communique signed by Dr. Sokomba Aliyu, Dr.Bilqis Muhammad and Dr. Egbogu Stanley, the president, Secretary General and Publicity Secretary of the association respectively.

The demands

The demands of the association include the immediate resignation or removal of the Chief Medical Director of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Professor Henry Ugboma, for fraud and administrative rascality, and unconditional reinstatement of the suspended UPTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD)’s executives led by Dr. Solomon Amadi.

Other demands are; that hospitals be provided with funds to sustain provision of the needed personal protective equipment, immediate implementation and funding of the medical residency training act as agreed, and payment of salary shortfall to her members.

NARD also demanded payment of COVID- 19 hazard inducement allowance to her members which it said was now long overdue and implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act to ensure adequate remuneration of state health workers.

The association also called on the federal government and National Assembly to investigate the non enrollment of healthcare workers for Group Life Insurance, and non-payment of Death-in-Service benefits to the next-of-kin of its fallen heroes despite claims of payment to insurance companies.

“NEC demands immediate payment of arrears of consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage owed some doctors and other health workers.

“We also demand appropriate compensation of our members in State Health Institutions,” the association added.

NARD said,, during the meeting its NEC deliberated on her suspended industrial action with a view to appraise the response of the government to issues that necessitated industrial dispute but observed continued shortage of supply of PPEs and funding to various tertiary health institutions.

It said it also observed that payment of COVID-19 hazard inducement allowance was commenced and was abruptly suspended immediately the NARD strike was suspended, among others.

Majority of COVID-19 patients prefer home treatment – Lagos

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said majority of COVID-19 patients in the state prefer to be treated at home, rather than being admitted to the state’s isolation facilities.

Abayomi, at a briefing on Thursday, lamented that many people give false information when they come for tests, making it difficult for them to be traced when their results come out positive.

He stated, “On a day-to-day basis, we make a diagnosis of COVID-19, which ranges between 100 and 200 every day. Out of those we diagnose, only a small number are willing to be admitted. Generally, we don’t have a problem convincing those who are very sick to be admitted to our isolation facilities. But by and large, the majority of COVID-19 patients prefer to be managed at home. So we keep in touch with them by telephone and telemedicine.

He said 2,036 cases were confirmed in the past two weeks, but the patients had not been picked from the community for treatment.

The commissioner added that the state was spending between N100,000 and N1m on a daily basis for each patient receiving care at its isolation facilities.

“For mild to moderate cases in our isolation centres, it cost the government in the region of N100,000 daily. That gives you an idea of the amount the state government is spending on COVID-19 patients daily. If you require high and intensive care, that amount can go up to anything from N500,000 to even N1m daily, depending on the complications of the case.”

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, said schools and worship centres would remain closed in the state, adding that the state government would continue to prioritise the safety of the residents.

Lagos opens recruitment portal for doctors, health workers

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday opened its portal for the recruitments of over 700 doctors and other health workers.

It said that the exercise is in a bid to ensure adequate manpower in all its health facilities and the need to fill the vacant positions in the 27 General Hospitals across state necessitated the recruitment exercise for efficient and top-class healthcare delivery in all government health facilities.

The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that approval was given for the Health Service Commission to employ over 760 health workers of which 400 would be doctors in line with the government’s commitment towards addressing the shortage of health workers across the state.

He, however, disclosed that the exercise has been phased in batches to ensure compliance with coronavirus (COVID-19) safety measures and that the first batch of recruitment will be concluded soon after which the second batch will take off.

Confirming the approval, the State Health Service Commission said it announced the commencement of recruitment exercise for medical professionals into General Hospitals across the state.

The Commission, through a statement released to newsmen, said that interested applicants could proceed to its recruitment portal, and apply for vacant positions as listed on the portal.

“The decision to fill the vacant positions in the 27 General Hospitals across the state followed the approval granted by the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to increase the staff strength of medical personnel in the hospitals.

“Some of the vacant positions for employment opportunities include that of Medical Consultants, Medical and Dental Officers, Pharmacists, Nursing Officers, Pharmacy Technicians, Dental Therapists, and Dental Technicians

“The recruitment portal will only be accessible for three weeks from 12 noon on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, to 12 noon on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

“Submission of forms in its office by applicants would not be entertained as part of measures to mitigate the spread of the deadly respiratory disease currently ravaging the world,” the statement read.

Noting that complication of the disease can be very difficult to manage, Sanwo-Olu said, doing the basics such as; early detection of the patient whether moderate or developing complications, early application of intervention to reduce mortality, coping with the interventions and other forms of care interventions in the ICU to reduce second re-complication in terms of care was very essential.

He stressed the need for international collaboration between medical associations during the pandemic.

“To show solidarity in the face of a common threat is something that we all strive for, we, unfortunately, exist in the world today with those values threatened and the values of solidarity, empathy are under threat and pressure,” he stated.

Ondo State Government Begins Recruitment of Healthcare Workers, aee details and apply

In a bid to improve the quality of Health Service delivery and increase health service utilization, the StateGovernor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN has approved the recruitment of Health Workers across all Cadres in the Primary Health Care facilities in Ondo State.

Consequently, the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency wishes to invite applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill vacant positions in its Primary Health Care Facilities across the
18 LGAs of Ondo State.

VACANT POSITIONS
Medical Officers, 
Nurses,
Midwives,
Community Health Officers,
Community Health Extension Workers,
Medical Record Officers, 
Medical Record Technicians, 
Laboratory Technicians, 
Pharmacy Technicians,
Scientific Officers 
Nutritionists.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply for any of these positions, kindly visit https://www.ondosphcdb.com/recruitment

Note:
Applications are to be received not later than 5 days after the publication of this advertisement.
All applicants must be above 18 years and less than 45 years old.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please note that the application is free..

Another Kogi gov’s aide dies


Kogi State  Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has lost another aide. The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja, said  the Executive Chairman of the state Security Trust Fund, Siaka Oyibo, died on Thursday afternoon.

Oyibo’s death occurred three weeks after the governor’s Personal Assistant, Abdulateef Suleiman, died.

Fanwo, in his statement, stated, “The Kogi State Government wishes to announce the passing away of Honourable Siaka Oyibo a few hours ago. Until his death, Honourable Oyibo was the Chairman of the Kogi State Security Trust Fund.”

The statement, however, did not indicate the cause of  Oyibo’s death, unlike the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, who reportedly died of COVID-19, but the governor insisted that he did not die of the virus.

Plateau LG chairman ,Mandya,  dies in hospital

The Chairman of the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mr Ezekiel Mandya, also died on Thursday.

It was learnt that the council chairman died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital on Thursday evening.

The Leader of Barkin Ladi Legislative Council, Mr Pam Chollom, confirmed Mandya ‘s  death to our correspondent in Jos on Thursday night.

Dung said,  “It’s true. We were with him in the morning and he was also with some people in the afternoon and there was no problem. Later, we heard that they took him to  hospital only for us to hear this evening that he had passed away. It’s really said.”

FG to involve NUT in guidelines for reopening of schools

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the Federal Government was engaging teachers in   the guidelines for  resumption of schools.

The General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mike Ene, had, in reaction to the guidelines by the PTF, told THE PUNCH that teachers would not resume because the government was not serious with what it was  doing.

But Nwajiuba said, “We are engaging them (the NUT). We as a people review the information that is available to government and juxtapose that with the needs of children who are in the exit classes so that they may obtain the minimum certificates that they need in order to progress in future.”

FG releases interim report on Madagascar’s drug, says plant grown in Nigeria

While answering a question, Ehanire said initial findings on the Madagascar’s drink touted as possible cure showed that the plant, which is the primary ingredient of the organic drink, is grown in Nigeria.

The minister said, “The preliminary result or analysis of  Madagascar’s  herb  done by the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development shows that it is the same plant called artemisia annua which is grown in farms in Abuja.

“Further research on its efficacy will be conducted when the grant for the research is approved.”

The task force’s National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, justified the government’s decision to retain the 10pm to 4am curfew despite the lifting of the ban on interstate travels.

Responding to a question, Aliyu said the strategy adopted by the PTF was to reduce social interactions as much as possible in a manner that had the least adverse effect on the economy.

He said, “When it comes to respiratory tract infection, what we are trying to do is to reduce the frequency of contact between people. So, anything you do that reduces that frequency will help towards reducing the risk of transmission.”

On when the railway would be opened, Aliyu said the sector must put in place the COVID-19 safety measures as was done in the aviation sector for reopening

FG warns medical directors over rising deaths in hospitals

Treat emergency cases on stretchers if there are no bed spaces, minister tells CMDs
Coronavirus spreading faster than system can handle, FG warns Nigerians
Ondo commissioner dies, Akeredolu’s wife, aide test positive for COVID-19
Olalekan Adetayo, Friday Olokor, Ade Adesomoju, Deji Lambo, Matthew Ochei, James Abraham, and Gbenga Odogun

The Federal Government, on Thursday, stated that  it was disturbed by increasing rejection of patients by hospitals, saying medical directors would be held  responsible  for the laxity.

The Minister of Health, Dr  Osagie Ehanire, who stated this during a meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Capital Territory Administration and medical directors in the FCT, also lamented that hospitals were delaying testing of  COVID-19 patients, leading to increasing coronavirus deaths.

Also, at its press briefing on Thursday, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19   urged state governments  to prepare for the worst  because of the rise in the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.

An Ibadan-based businessman, Mr. Omololu Akinyosoye, who  lost a friend to COVID-19, said he was tested at the Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, on June 17 and told to come back for the result in two  weeks.

Also, many hospitals have been abandoning patients. For example, a man, Wisdom Akpan, accused the health workers of a primary health centre in the Joju area of Sango in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, of denying his sister, Rose, treatment till she collapsed and died in front of the hospital.

Attend to emergency cases on stretchers, if there are no bed spaces, minister tells hospitals

Warning heads of hospitals on Thursday, the ministers said, “No emergency should be denied attention, even if it means admitting on a stretcher or an examination couch to give lifesaving oxygen. I appeal to all medical directors, who we have specifically invited here today for this message, that we shall hold each personally accountable for the outcomes emanating from your hospitals.

“You are to kindly ensure that patients are attended to with dignity and dispatch, in the spirit in which the Honourable Minister of the FCT and I have spoken.

“I understand that health workers are rightfully concerned about their safety in COVID-19 pandemic. So, we have provided the PPE (personal protective equipment), training and an infection prevention and control protocols for doctors and nurses to discharge their duties safely, without risks to themselves.”

He also lamented that many COVID-19 patients had died while awaiting the results of their tests for the virus

The minister stated, “I have  also been informed that many patients are left unattended to after admission, or even  die, while waiting for the result of their COVID-19 or other tests, which sometimes take as long as three to six- days to be released.

“We, in the healthcare sector cannot, afford negative impact on our sector and must be mindful of the collateral damage that can befall us, wipe out disease control gains we have made in the past decades and threaten our not so strong health system.

“Efforts to control COVID-19 must not be at the expense of allowing other diseases that are equally life-threatening to begin to thrive and increase mortalities. It would be a serious setback, if medical services, especially emergency medical service, begin to deteriorate in the wake of fighting COVID-19.

 “There are places today, where we suspect that needless mortalities from other diseases have overtaken the threat of COVID – 19. We are beginning to see that fear of or focus on coronavirus is making some health institutions lose sight of other health hazards in our communities.”

While stressing that the government was deeply worried that health practitioners were neglecting their patients mainly for fear of contracting coronavirus, Ehanire said he had also directed that basic diagnostic  laboratories  be set up at the emergency centres of major hospitals.

He said, “I have directed that  side labs for GeneXpert COVID – 19 diagnostic machines, which deliver results within one hour, should be deployed and activated at the National Hospital Abuja and the UATH (University of Abuja Teaching Hospital) in Gwagwalada. I also directed that basic diagnostic side labs be set up at the emergency centres of major hospitals.

“I am talking of the frequency of reports of very sick persons being rejected and abandoned by our hospitals. Many have died having been denied attention in hospitals, or told there is no bed, often after they have made marathon journeys from one hospital to the other in search of help.

“This is not acceptable, we cannot afford to continue to lose so many of our people, who have in fact found their way to a hospital, only to lose their lives to health conditions, some of which could have been cured.”

At the PTF briefing,  Ehanire said states must beef up their battles against COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, Nigeria had recorded 26,484 cases and 603 deaths caused  by the virus, while 10,152 patients had been successfully treated and discharged.

Ehanire called on state governments to continue to prepare more bed spaces, adding the cases would  rise with  increased testing.

He said, “We are urging state governments to prepare for the worst. This rising trend requires that each state of the federation to continue to prepare more bed spaces and increase sample collection sites, as well as improve logistics to deliver to designated laboratories promptly.

“It is also important to protect the vulnerable by putting in place measures which take care of their social needs and reduce their exposure to risks of infection.”

According to him, the rising number of cases is “a sign that COVID-19 is actually expanding faster than our systems are handing it.”

Ehanire also said COVID-19 positive persons, who did not show symptoms of the virus, would be admitted in hospitals, if they had conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, among others.

He stated, “The Federal Ministry of Health’s plan will be to focus more on minimising fatalities by prioritising pre-emptive admission to hospital for medical observation, for all persons who test positive for COVID-19 and meet our definition of vulnerability, even if they do not yet have classical symptoms.”

Ehanire said with the lifting of the ban on interstate travels, the assumption should not be that the COVID-19 danger was over.

The risks of being infected, he said, were higher during travels, advising Nigerians to avoid non-essential travels.

The chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, also said with the easing of restrictions, it was expected that there would be rise in cases.

He said, “One significant observation the PTF wishes to make is that new rise in cases are to be expected as nations start to ease restrictions.”

FG says those responsible for attack on FMC, Lokoja will be apprehended

Mustapha expressed regret over the Wednesday attack on the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja and promised that the Federal Government would ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

He added, “The PTF has received, with great concern, reports about the attack on the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State by some hoodlums.

“The PTF is particularly distressed and regrets the trauma to which medical workers, patients and others who went for their legitimate duties were subjected.

“I wish to assure you that security agencies have been tasked with the responsibility for fishing out the criminal elements behind it and they will be brought to justice. We thank law- abiding Nigerians for reporting the occurrence promptly.”

COVID-19 CASE UPDATE AND IMPRESSIVE RATE OF RECOVERY



The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control at the end of today reported a total of 184 new confirmed cases with 51 in Lagos and 23 in Jigawa taking the lead for the day.

The good news however is a huge increase in the recovery rate as the NCDC reported 1070 people have been discharged which is a little over 20% of confirmed cases. This indicates that whatever treatment is being administered is working and maybe Nigerians could learn to live with the virus and ho about their daily business.

It can also be observed that even though the lockdown has been relaxed, the number of daily confirmed cases is reducing and if the recovery rate persists, things might go to normal earlier than we hoped for.

Despite this development, the number of fatalities still stands at 164 which is a message that COVID'19 is indeed real for those doubting it. The need to take necessary precautions cannot be overemphasized, washing of hands regularly and use of proper face mask is very paramount.

Social distancing and abiding by federal and state lockdown rules are also very important. Stay home, stay safe and above all stay sane.



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And you want the scene to be published

Send your stories to:

Whatsapp number:- +2348161164458

Email:- olamipaul@gmail.com

COVID-19 UPDATE IN NIGERIA

Samples Tested

23,835

Confirmed Cases

4,151

Active Cases

3,278

Discharged Cases

745

Death

128

Confirmed Cases by State

States AffectedNo. of Cases (Lab Confirmed)No. of Cases (on admission)No. DischargedNo. of Deaths
Lagos1,7641,28344833
Kano5765283018
FCT343250858
Bauchi16115461
Borno159144015
Katsina15613899
Ogun11583284
Gombe11095150
Kaduna9881143
Sokoto9677109
Jigawa838201
Edo6751124
Zamfara656203
Oyo6448142
Osun384304
Kwara302091
Nasarawa252302
Rivers211542
Kebbi201802
Delta171133
Akwa Ibom175102
Plateau171610
Adamawa171700
Taraba151500
Ondo15960
Yobe131201
Ekiti13841
Enugu10820
Ebonyi7700
Niger6420
Bayelsa5500
Imo3210
Benue2200
Abia2110
Anambra10
  • On the 9th of May 2020, 239 new confirmed cases and 11 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
  • No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
  • Till date, 4151 cases have been confirmed, 745 cases have been discharged and 128 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
  • The 239 new cases are reported from 15 states- Lagos(97),Bauchi(44), Kano(29), Katsina(19), Borno(17), FCT(7), Kwara(6), Oyo(5), Kaduna(3), Sokoto(3), Adamawa(2), Kebbi(2), Plateau (2), Ogun(2), Ekiti(1)

COVID-19: 386 NEW CASES CONFIRMED

Samples Tested

23,835

Confirmed Cases

3,912

Active Cases

3,116

Discharged Cases

679

Death

117

Confirmed Cases by State


States AffectedNo. of Cases (Lab Confirmed)No. of Cases (on admission)No. DischargedNo. of Deaths
Lagos1,6671,18644833
Kano5475092018
FCT336292404
Borno142128014
Katsina13712098
Bauchi11711061
Ogun11381284
Gombe110100100
Kaduna9579142
Sokoto938049
Jigawa838201
Edo6751124
Zamfara656203
Oyo5943142
Osun384304
Nasarawa252401
Kwara241590
Rivers211542
Kebbi181800
Delta171133
Akwa Ibom175102
Adamawa151500
Taraba151500
Ondo15960
Plateau151410
Yobe131201
Ekiti12741
Enugu10820
Ebonyi7700
Niger6420
Bayelsa5500
Imo3210
Benue2200
Abia2110
Anambra10

Highlights

  • On the 8th of May 2020, 386 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
  • No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
  • Till date, 3912 cases have been confirmed, 679 cases have been discharged and 117 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
  • The 386 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos (176), Kano(65), Katsina (31), FCT(20), Borno(17), Bauchi(15), Nasarawa (14), Ogun(13), Plateau(10), Oyo(4), Sokoto(4), Rivers(4), Kaduna(3), Edo(2), Ebonyi(2), Ondo(2), Enugu(1), Imo(1), Gombe(1), Osun(1)

Are u an eyewitness?

Send your stories to:

Whatsapp number:- +2348161164458

Email:- olamipaul@gmail.com

A Yobe State Assembly Member Who Tested Positive Of COVID-19 Has Refused Isolation

Member of Yobe State House of Assembly who is suspected to have tested positive for COVID-19 has allegedly refused to be isolated at the state isolation facility.

The member was rushed to the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital and was admitted at the amenity ward of the hospital.

His sample according to a source was taken and later confirmed to have tested positive but he refused to go to the isolation facility which is also located at the same hospital.

“It was a running battle between us and the member of the State House of Assembly to move to the isolation center and he refused,” the source disclosed.

The patients at the amenity ward where he was admitted at the hospital have been evacuated and the wing deserted.

According to reports, the action of the member irked the health workers at the hospital and they refused to attend to him in the last two days.

It is also not clear whether the hospital is considering the amenity ward as an Isolation center..

BREAKING: Nigeria records 148 new COVID-19 cases, total now 2950.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus have increased to 2,950 in Nigeria, NEW DIRECT reports.

This is after 148 new infections were recorded in the country on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle.

Of the new cases, 43 are in Lagos, 32 are in Kano, while 14 are in Zamfara.

148 new cases of #COVID19:

43-Lagos
32-Kano
14-Zamfara
10-FCT
9-Katsina
7-Taraba
6-Borno
6-Ogun
5-Oyo
3-Edo
3-Kaduna
3-Bauchi
2-Adamawa
2-Gombe
1-Plateau
1-Sokoto
1-Kebbi

2950 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria
Discharged: 481
Deaths: 98

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