- releases awareness guidelines
- warns against abuse of new found freedom
The Federal Government has assured that the on-going investigation into the causes of the recently reported high number of deaths in Kano State will be pursued to a logical conclusion. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the daily briefing of the committee.
Mustapha said a substantial foundation for a conscious fight against COVID-19 in Kano had already been established, adding that additional aids, from the PTF as well as the Nigeria military, were on the way. He added that the team sent over to Kano on Monday to investigate the situation had already filed an interim report on its findings, adding that the federal government was poised to investigate recent high number of strange deaths thoroughly.
According to him: “Also, the on-going investigation into the causes of the recently reported high number of deaths will be pursued to a logical conclusion. “I wish to reassure all Nigerians resident in Kano that the Federal Government and particularly this PTF is with them and shall do all possible to fight the spread in the state as directed by the President.”
The SGF said Kano is one of Nigeria historical cities and remains a backbone for the economy of this nation.
“The already established isolation and treatment centres with holding capacity for 274 persons, the proposed establishment of additional facilities with capacity for 500, two Sample Collection centres along with six new proposed centres have provided a strong foundation for tackling the spread of the virus in the state,” he added.
The SGFsaid Nigerian Military, under its COVID-19 response plan, will establish an additional isolation centre, treatment facility and a Testing Laboratory Service in Kano State.
“The PTF COVID-19, in the immediate, would further strengthen Kano state to scale-up its response with the provision of necessary facilities and equipment, capacity building, improving stakeholder inter-phase and guidance on any existing policy capable of diminishing the fight against the pandemic in the state. Already, the testing laboratories in the AKTH and the BUK have become fully functional. The PTF has released a number of equipment to be transported immediately to Kano to beef up the response,” he stated.
He listed the equipment as two Oxygen Concentration and three ventilators; 280 Protective gowns; 51 face shields; 538 examination gloves; 25 boot covers; medical masks and surgical caps; and Infra Red Thermometers.
He expressed confident that the above collaboration complemented by the lock down directed by the President will be effective in slowing down the spread while government continue to test, detect, isolate, contact trace and manage cases.
He added that as the nation approach the commencement of the first of a three phased easing of lockdown from Monday May 4th, 2020, it is important that Nigerians receive and digest the implementation guidelines.
Mustapha however cautioned Nigerians on their new found freedom which begins on Monday May 4, 2020 saying nobody should abuse the easing of restrictions. “It is also important for States, Law enforcement Agents, trade associations, employers, businesses and citizens to understand their roles, obligations and responsibilities. Above all, we must understand that this is still a war against an unseen and potent enemy. No one should mistake the easing of restrictions for permission to act without care. The Security Agents have been instructed to respect the rights of citizens while also ensuring strict enforcement,” the SGF advised.
The SGF said the PTF is adopting a combination of channels to create enhanced awareness and understanding of these new guidelines, including publication in print media and social media; broadcast on electronic media; dissemination in local languages; and use of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in disseminating to all the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
The SGF said that to complement the above, members of the PTF would be participating in different television and radio programmes to elucidate these guidelines.
“As you know, our National Response is driven by strong collaboration with the sub-national levels of government. In this, I am glad to mention that Lagos State has already adapted these implementation guidelines, while other states are also expected to follow suit shortly,” Mustapha said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has said that contrary to claims that about 300 medical workers have tested positive to the virus, only 113 have been infected.
According to him, majority of them are those working in private hospitals with no accreditation to treat coronavirus patients.
He said: “As for 300 doctors testing positive, that is a feeble, there are not so many people in the health sector who are infected. The latest figure we have is that they about 113 actually and this 113 are not all public health workers, a good number are from private hospitals. And you could hear us speaking here frequently against people treating coronavirus in private clinics, we are actually referring to people who do so without the necessary precautions, without the necessary training. Because they infect themselves and then go home and give these infections to their family and is not the right thing.
“So the healthcare workers who have no training have no business actually handling coronavirus patients.
“As for those who do not have equipment, we have said that we have provided PPE for all the people out there. But let me remind you again that there is a global shortage of PPEs, every country is struggling for masks, PPEs.”