Highlights Of Response Of HMH To Questions At The Presidential Task-Force Press Briefing ON COVID-19 Of 14th May, 2020
ON THE UN-EXPLAINED DEATHS:
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire once more stated that this incidence is not peculiar to Kano as it has also been recorded in other States of Nigeria.
He made it known that pathologists from the relevant States are involved in a training to so that they bring out protocols on how to approach investigations into these unexplained deaths.
Speaking further, the Minister said, “this will include the collection of samples and effecting a verbal autopsy via questioning eye-witnesses on the circumstances surrounding the deaths”. He promised to communicate the findings appropriately when they are conclusive.
ON THE WHEREABOUT OF CHINESE DOCTORS IN NIGERIA:
Dr. Ehanire said that not all of the Chinese team that arrived Nigeria were doctors. Beyond that, “the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is not their host”, he added. “However, the FMOH during the course of interacting with them were able to share their experience and ideas on their approach to managing COVID-19 in their country.”
ON SELF-ISOLATION:
The Honourable Minister maintained that the proposed issue of self-isolation is an option that has been considered for adoption to which the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued guidelines. “The is to be a supervised self-isolation and not everyone is eligible for this”, he said.
ON COMPULSORY USE OF FACE MASKS:
The Honourable Minister stated that “We are not saying it’s a crime, but if it is recommended that something is good for your health. I think it doesn’t have to be a law before you do that. But if something is good for you and good for me, definitely it’s a sound advisory; you don’t have to make a law out of that. If you wear a mask and I don’t, there is certain percentage of protection for one of us but if both of us wear masks we are protecting ourselves. According to some unconfirmed studies, it protects up to 90% but definitely not up to 100% protection.”
ON OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY:
With regards to the Pharmaceutical Society, the Honourable Minister stated that we encourage all those who feel they have an answer to the COVID-19 problem to go ahead and do the research they want to do; “”Our universities are there; we have research centres. The Ministry is just a regulator, we oversee all of these; NAFDAC is there to certify what you need to do, you can go to them.
There are Committees that will allow you do ethical trials which involve phases of tests. There are processes to that. It should not be imagined that the Ministry is trying to stop anybody. The Ministry is not the one to give permission but certainly the Ministry will not give anybody money to go and do things unless they are looking for organizations that give grants to do research.”
ON THE RETURNEES FROM DUBAI, U.K AND USA:
“With regard to the returnees from Dubai, U.K and USA, they are still within their 14 days of quarantine, there are no reports or results yet, after 10 to 11 days, tests will be conducted. The test will show who is positive and who is not. It is a routine process.”
