Skip to main content

Nigeria to launch coronavirus response action plan soon- Minister of Health

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says efforts are ongoing to launch the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health sector response action plan.

The minister, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, at the Presidential Task Force (PTF), briefing on COVID-19 in the country.

According to Ehanire, the plan will mark a new medium and long term health sector response strategy to the challenges across all areas of health over the next three years.

He said that the plan would be presented at the National Council of Health and applied for the development of states specific action plans to address peculiarity.

“Some of the fatalities recorded may have been saved if they had arrived the isolation centers early.

”We should also note that the clinical condition of COVID-19 patient, especially the elderly and those with underlying illnesses can change from mild to critical within a short time.

“The National Association of Resident Doctors, who embarked on strike a week ago has suspended the industrial action following continual dialogue.

”This is based on constructive engagement and response to grievances that is tabled such as payment of hazards and inducement allowances and provision of personal protective equipment,” he said.


The Minister said that the Nigerian government had received medical supplies, which was the first of the series of deliveries from the UN group and the European Union.

He said: ”The donation is very reassuring to us as we can now make up our stock pile and it is made up of various categories of testing and protective equipment.

”547 oxygen concentrators, courtesy of the World Health Organisation and experienced in Nigeria shows they are more in use than ventilators.

“The confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria has surpassed the 20,000 mark over the weekend reaching 20,244 between yesterday and today, the highest number of daily diagnosed new cases at 745, over the past 24 hours.

“While symptomatic treatment can be vital in preventing complications, close clinical observation in centres early enough can be decisive,” he explained.

He also advised all hospitals to have the right index substation and promptly refer suspected cases to designated treatment centre.

He also said that attempting to treat COVID-19 patients when not accredited was a waste of time, endangered victims and also put others involved at risk.

He said that his visit to the 063 Nigeria Air Force hospital to inspect the COVID-19 observation and treatment centre, showed 25-bed centre with facilities for managing mild and severe cases and additional 200 bed hostel as backup isolation centre in case of over spill.

Ehanire noted that the centre would complement the treatment centres in the FCT, which were able to handle isolation type 2 and 3 cases.

He added that the WHO African regional certification commission for polio virus eradication, announced the certification of Nigeria as a polio free state.

”It said that Nigeria up till 2012 had accounted for about 50 per cent of the polio cases worldwide.

“The credit for this is due to all tiers of government, community leaders, international partners and above all the national primary healthcare development agencies, frontline health workers. The certificate will be delivered in August.

“It does not mean that we are resting on our guard, the energy will be directed to supporting COVID-19 fight, especially with the community transmission phase and support programme of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agencies through its centre network,’” he said.

“The experienced human resources for health to drive surveillance and community case management, community engagement at grassroots levels”.

“Let’s be mindful that other health services such as antenatal care, malaria and other ailments shall be maintained to ensure that indices do not drop while we still stay polio free,” he said.

Over the weekend confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country reached 20,244.

The country also saw the highest number of daily diagnosed new cases of 745 on June 18 but with 436 over the past 24 hours.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

CJN Tanko unveils panel to hear Atiku’s appeal against Buhari

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed is presiding over the 7-man panel that will hear the appeals filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23 poll. Other members of the panel are Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Amiru Sanusi, Uwani Abaji, Ejembi Eko, John Inyang Okoro and Olukayode Ariwoola. Atiku and his party are challenging the September 11 judgment of the Justice Mohammed Garba-led Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed President Buhari’s victory at the polls. The appeals hearing has generated some controversies especially due to the silence of the Supreme Court on the justices that would constitute the panel, with the Coalition of United Progressives Party (CUPP) demanding the use of seniority in selecting them. A senior member of Atiku’s legal team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), told reporters that they considered it strange that as at

NNL: Sanni dumps Saraki Boys

Tunde Sanni, head coach of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin has resigned, Coordinator of the team, Idris Musa, said on Monday. Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that Sanni had turned in his resignation letter later after a meeting with the team’s Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka. After the meeting, Chukwuemeka and Sanni refused to comment on the matter. The club’s U-15 coach, Taofeeq Babatunde, has been drafted to assist the Assistant Coach, Suleiman Quadri, pending when a substantive manager will be appointed. His resignation may be due to recent results, which were not in favour of the Saraki Boys. The team lost to Kebbi United 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw during regulation time in the round of 64 encounter of the Aiteo Cup in Minna. The Saraki Boys also lost 3-0 to Mighty Jets of Jos and drew 0-0 with the Jos-based side in the return leg on Wednesday in Ilorin at Bet9ja Nigeria National League’s (NNL), Match Day 10 encounter.

Chechnya leader makes Mo Salah honorary citizen

Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov has made Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah an honorary citizen of the southern Russian region at a farewell banquet held for the eliminated World Cup side. Rights groups and Western governments allege that authorities in Chechnya repress their political opponents, discriminate against women and persecute sexual minorities, all allegations that Chechnya’s leaders deny. Chechnya has been hosting the Egyptian team’s World Cup training camp and Kremlin-backed Kadyrov has seized on opportunities to appear alongside Salah. Sarah’s goalscoring exploits for Liverpool and Egypt have made him an international superstar. “Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic. “Yes, that’s right! Tonight I signed a decree conferring this high award on the great footballer and member of the Egypt and Liverpool teams,” Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. Salah was presented with a badge and a copy of the decree at the dinner, Kadyrov said. The Egy