Minister: Multi-sectoral team of specialist departs for Kano Saturday

The Federal Government on Monday has hinted that arrangements have been concluded for a multi-sectoral team of specialists comprising of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA), Department of Family Health amongst other will leave for Kano Saturday morning to support the State in all areas of response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this at the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 said the team would focus on training and capacity building of State healthcare workforce along various specialties on a massive scale.

He further stated that, “On case management, medical, nursing and cleaning staff shall be trained or re-trained, NPHCDA will engage its extensive Kano state network to drive testing demand at grassroots through community mobilization, so that NCDC testing strategy can be realized”.

Ehanire also said, the Federal Ministry of Health has gotten complaints about patients suffering from other ailments not being attended to in either private or public hospitals in the era of COVID-19, raising concern for immunizationand routine service coverage.

According to him, a senior official of the Dept of Family Health is therefore in the team to help drive continuation of essential health care in both private and public hospitals in Kano.

The Minister lamented that, “among countries of the world, we have seen horrendous fatalities, livelihoods destroyed and economies shut down. This virus has affected all of us – from those struggling to survive, to those struggling to return from abroad, and it has even forced changes right at the heart of government.

“We have survived many past epidemics, but COVID-19 has been the most difficult and damaging that nations and healthcare systems have ever faced. It is not different for Nigeria.

“We shall do all we can do combat the virus but we cannot do this alone. I earlier mentioned several outbreaks that we as Nigerians overcame. And we, as a Nation, must rally round to show how strong we can be”.

Ehanire stated that the country have now activated 18 laboratories nationwide, to increase testing capacity and improve case management, adding that partners and Nigerians, both home and abroad, are volunteering to serve and support government efforts.

While congratulating Nigerian workers on their international day, the Minister said: “the great tribute I pay today is to the workers of our healthcare system. Doctors, Nurses, Lab technicians, Scientists, and unsung heroes like cleaners, drivers, clerks and adhoc staff, are the Nigerians in the frontline. Many offices have been working nearly 7 days a week since the outbreak started.

“Others more have been stretched almost to capacity, but still going strong, showing the Nigerian capacity for resilience and fortitude. I say to these brave ones, Happy Workers Day and to their families, thank you, we will do all we can to protect them.”

“We can support them by following the advisories: stay home, or wear a mask if you must go out, observe hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing. I call on health workers to continue to follow laid down standard infection prevention and control measures and treat every patient with care for themselves and the patient, but please do not refuse care”, he added.