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| Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire |
The Federal Government on Wednesday appealed to states to give premium attention to setting up more isolation centres and bed spaces, as there is a pressing need for these facilities in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
According to him, โThere is a pressing urgency and need to provide and prepare isolation centers and more bed spaces in all States of the Federation. I wish to appeal each State authority and the FCT to give first line attention to this requirement, in order to meet expectations and obligations.
โAs testing ramps up, the need will become more and more obvious. It should therefore be prioritized, so that we are not taken by surprise.
โI should take the opportunity to request Distinguished Senators, honourable members of Houses of Representatives and Assemblies to also get involved in the disease surveillance and notification efforts in their constituencies and to actively support the drive to rapidly increase bed spaces for isolation and treatment in their States.
โI shall also strongly urge those who test positive for COVID-19 to cooperate with the directives of authorities, on isolation, so as not to constitute a risk and a cause for public concern.โ
He added: โWe have completed plans to start training and capacity building of much needed Intensive Care workforce for various parts of the country.
โI am pleased to report a very fruitful interaction of the Federal Ministry of Health delegation to Kano yesterday. They were well received by His Excellency the Governor and have been able to conduct an appraisal of the situation and start working on outlines of providing technical support to the State COVID-19 task force in several aspects, as well as planning capacity building for the frontline health workers.
โThey also met with many influential community leaders, who all expressed willingness to support the effort of the government. A full report will follow.โ
He urged health care workers to continue to render services to the Nigerian people while adhering to the laid down standard infection prevention and control measures.
โThe increasing figure of confirmed cases underscores the ongoing community transmission, which is a major challenge and again necessitates a call on all citizens not to take this COVID-19 lightly; but to take ownership of the initiatives for non-pharmaceutical interventions with strict adherence to public health advisories: maintain social distance, practise hand and respiratory hygiene, avoid crowded places and wear your mask or a face covering when you leave your house.
โThese and other related measures are critical, and an integral part of the strategy to ease restrictions as from 4th of May. Failure to comply can have undesirable effects.
โAn advisory on case management has been developed and is accessible online. The NCDC has also released guidelines on the management of corpses who fall victim to COVID-19,โ he said.
