Chinese medics test negative, says minister

The 15-member medical team from China have tested negative to Coronavirus, according to Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

The Chinese who were tested after completing their compulsory 14-day quarantine have all tested negative for coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Chinese medics will be providing technical support to Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19, and sharing experiential strategies of how their country curtailed the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ehanire said on Tuesday: “As for the Chinese persons who came in, the test has been done after they were quarantined for 14 days. All of them were negative. After that, the Federal Ministry of Health is done with that particular case.”

He said a committee of experts headed by Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a virologist and the other members will soon be sworn in.

“The ministry of health has set up a ministerial expert advisory committee, made up of eminent Nigerian virologists, public health experts, infectious disease and diagnostic experts and others, to study the evolution and development of the COVID-19 outbreak and the responses in Nigeria.

“The committee will advise on the national strategy and action plan, using lessons learned as we go along, and those learned from strategies in places across the globe. This will help us to identify and adopt the promising strategies and align our plans with best practices and advisories,” he said.

Concerning the 40 health workers that are in quarantine for testing positive for COVID-19, the minister did not give any update but urged frontline health workers to always use their personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out their duties.

Ehanire said: “We have always warned that health workers must use their personal protective equipment. Secondly, if you are not trained in infection prevention and control, COVID-19 is not for you as a health worker. It is very risky to underrate the infectiousness of this virus because it is not like any other sickness or viral infection that you know.

“That is why we have said only accredited isolation and treatment centres should be handling this infection. Private entities that want to participate can apply for accreditation and be trained and certified. Every other person who is doing treatment, either privately or secretly — is doing so at his/her own risk and to the public.

“I can say quite happily and proudly that the Nigerian Army has agreed to support isolation centres with security as the need arises. So, we shall be applying for their support in situations where we need security for all our patients and also for those who are awaiting results who have been tested.”

Comments

House of Reps seek N36b special fund for states

The House of Representatives on Tuesday debated the mysterious deaths in Kano State and resolved to ask that N1 billion be made available by the Federal Government to each of the 36 states. The N1 billion intervention is to enable the states provide the needed facilities to combat and prevent further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic . The lawmakers said the impact of the lockdown caused by the spread of the virus has negative financial impact on the state, some of which are already struggling to survive. The House also agreed to summon the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha; Health Minister Osagie Ehanire and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, over the mass deaths in Kano. These are highlights of the resolutions reached by the lawmakers while debating a motion yesterday. The House directed its Health Committee to investigate the deaths, which have created fear among residents of the state. Mus

All Aboard..! Steering Nigeria’s COVID-19 Action Train

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Nigeria on the 27th of February 2020. Just a little over two months ago and, yet, it feels like a lifetime has elapsed. The world we lived in then, is so much different from the one we are about to be released into, as the lockdown restrictions are lifted. When the lockdown was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 27th of March, there were 65 confirmed cases in the country and the President’s Chief of Staff had just tested positive for the virus. Today, we have confirmed over 2000 cases, and many of our beloved fellow citizens (more than 50) are no longer with us, having fallen in the wake of this novel coronavirus. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and to those of us who remain on the journey of life, may God grant wisdom. We need it, desperately, at this time to navigate the complexities ahead. The month we spent sheltering in place was, without question, challenging; but in our isolation there was an odd sort of t

LASACO offers N1b free cover

LASACO Assurance Plc has provided N1billion free insurance cover to 200 frontline health workers in Osun State, its Managing Director, Mr Segun Balogun, has said. Balogun, in a statement, said the workers involved in containing the disease would enjoy insurance worth N5 million each to cover death/permanent disability and medical/hospitalisation expenses. According to him, the gesture was to boost the morale and motivate the workers, who are in the fore-front of the battle against COVID-19 and are, thus, exposed to several risks. He emphasised the need of such protection for the workers to enable them focus on their duty. He commended Nigerians for cooperating with the government in the fight against the disease and advised them to continue to observe social distancing and other preventive measures eradicate the disease. He promised that the company would continue to provide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to support the government. LASACO Assurance, along with othe

Westernars

Search This Blog