Coronavirus Pandemic
AS Nigeria battles Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal government has said that its target is to reduce the fatality cases to less than one percent. Osagie Ehanire, minister of health said the federal government was working on innovative interventions with prospects of improving survival chances, especially for the elderly and those with co-morbidities.
Speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 on Monday, August 3, Ehanire said the government would work with state governments to prepare the necessary space and human resources at General hospitals or primary health centres, PHCs, to be trained for setting up at least one sample collection site at every LGA in due course, with efficient sample retrieval logistics to convey samples to laboratories.
“For patients with significant clinical symptoms, we also plan the designation of holding rooms at General hospitals, with facilities for oxygen administration, such as oxygen concentrators or from oxygen cylinders. Some investment in this strategy, known in Lagos State as oxygen kiosks, will be required, but the benefit, in lives saved, will be significant. All this may sound ambitious, but we must face the stark reality that COVID-19 will also spread to small towns and rural areas, and so begin to prepare structures to respond to the challenge.
“With regard to the present COVID-19 scene, Monday, 3rd August, 2020, recorded 43,841 confirmed cases out of a total of 286,091 samples tested so far, while 20,308 persons have been treated and discharged. 888 persons have sadly been lost as a result of the COVID-19. No meaning can be read into this as yet. In comparison, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases recorded in July was 17,457, out of a total of 154, 454 samples tested, with a positivity rate of 11.3 percent, as against the June 2020 figures of 19,149 positive cases from a total of 111,052 samples tested with a positivity rate of 17.2 percent.
“Although it is far too early to draw conclusions, it is noteworthy that testing increased by over 40,000 in one month, and the number of positive cases dropped by more than 2,000. But we must not rest on our oars: it is just suggestive of the fact that our strategy is not failing, and we must continue to sustain efforts. I wish to assure our Health workers that we have no anxiety about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as we are reasonably well-stocked with materials and commodities, which have been supplied to all sections of the country. At the directive of His Excellency the President, we were able to respond to the request of our neighbouring country of Sao Tome, for commodities for COVID-19 response and send a consignment to a sister country.
“I also assure citizens that we are continuing to increase and optimize our laboratory diagnostic capacity, most recently in Zamfara, Kebbi, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, and Bayelsa States. On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I again express our appreciation to the United Nations System in Nigeria and to the European Union, for the generous donation of yet another consignment of valuable supplies, which I had the privilege of receiving at the Airport on Friday 31st July, 2020. This additional delivery will boost our stockpile of the wherewithal to fight the pandemic and it includes face masks and shields goggles, airways, tubes, bio-hazard bags, safety boxes, test kites, etc. I assure our donors that all materials will be used judiciously in the fight against the pandemic,” he said.
– Aug. 5, 2020 @ 14:05 GMT |
Tags: COVID-19: FG targets reduction in fatality rate – Minister
