Health
By Paul Ukpabio
THE Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, has deepened its involvement in the fight against covid-19, by making a presentation of critical care equipment to National Health Institutions.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Abuja, Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 said that the contribution of oxygen concentrators and patient monitors to the 21 most affected teaching hospitals across the six geo-political zones of the country by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, was indeed a welcome development and could not have come at a better time.
Mustapha, who spoke of the significance of the donation, said: “In order to fully understand the significance of the donation of critical care equipment by the NSIA, I consider it necessary to inform you that as a matter of policy and determination, Mr. President directed the PTF to ensure that our health systems should be straightened to overcome this pandemic, withstand future outbreaks and serve Nigerians satisfactory.”
The PTF chairman said that the government and the PTF were not unmindful of the burden that the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic has caused Nigerians and the various measures taken so far, however, he said that the lack of compliance, with the non-pharmaceutical measures and the emergence of the second wave of infections, which has proved to be more deadly, have compelled the government to issue the new COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation 2021, which was signed by Mr. President.
He once again lauded the donation, commending NSIA’s intervention in this regard, saying that, “it comes at a critical time in the fight against the virus and consequently must be lauded. The current administration has and will continue to put in place measures, both economic and social, to ease the burden of the pandemic on Nigerians. But every citizen or guest in our country must commit to creating a Covid-19 free environment. We cannot stop the spread of the virus if we fail to take responsibility for our behavior.”
Mustapha seized the opportunity to inform on some of the steps also taken by the PTF in recent times.
“The Oxygen concentrators are useful for artificially increasing the percentage of oxygen in the air, thereby supporting the recovery of patients with mild cases of Covid-19, prior to the worsening of the case. The PTF has prioritized Case Management as key to our success. In this regard, ICUs and well equipped treatment centres have been constructed as legacy infrastructure, with the support of the organized private sector, international funding and public sector funding. I am pleased to also inform you that the federal government has rehabilitated oxygen plants in various health institutions and is in the process of constructing one each in the states of the federation to combat the shortage of oxygen much needed by patients that require critical care,” he added.
– Jan. 29, 2021 @ 18:09 GMT |
Tags: NSIA donates critical care equipment to National Health Institutions
