Coronavirus Pandemic
THE Africa Centre for Disease Control, African CDC, has donated 200 pieces of locally made face shields to the Anambra State Health Ministry.
Vincent Okpala, Anambra State Commissioner for Health, who received the face shields in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka, commended the centre for the gesture.
The commissioner noted that the donation became necessary due to the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It will help in protecting medical personnel, who attend to COVID-19 patients in the state.
“We say thank you very much for remembering us with this donation and for kitting us in this pandemic era.
“A protected healthcare provider is a confident healthcare provider and without gun or bullet you cannot engage the enemy.
“This actually will help and shield us while we engage the coronavirus and it is a well thought out donation because it is made locally.
“If COVID-19 has brought any positivity, it will be that we have started looking inwards. Things that we traditionally go outside to procure, are now being made in the country,’’ he said.
He assured the group that the items would be distributed judiciously to the State Rapid Response Team and to the Nigerian Medical Association, Anambra State Chapter.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Willie Obiano on Health, Simeon Onyemaechi, on behalf of African CDC presented the face shields to the commissioner.
Onyemaechi, who is also a member of African CDC noted that the donations became necessary as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The African CDC is a specialised technical institution of the African Union established to support public healthcare initiatives of member states and strengthen the capacity of their institutions.
“The centre helps to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats.
“Our regional centres are Central Africa RCC, Eastern Africa RCC, Northern Africa RCC, Southern Africa RCC and West Africa RCC.
“We support African Union Member States in providing coordinated and integrated solutions to inadequacies in their public health infrastructure and human resources,’’ he said.
He observed the global scarcity of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, gingered African CDC to source the face shield locally so that African countries would no longer depend on developed countries for them.
The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Anambra chapter, Emmanuel Muonagor, said the face shields would be useful in protecting the front liners.
Muonagor noted that doctors from public and private hospitals would benefit from the donations. He commended the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health for attracting the face shield.
– Jun. 25, 2020 @ 11:25 GMT |
Tags: African Centre for Disease Control donates 200 face shields to Anambra Health Ministry
