FRONT PAGE NEWS (201)
Reps Commend Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire’s Team, Daar Communications, Too
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institution has commended the Honourable Minister of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health for efforts at curtailing COVID-19 in Nigeria. The commendation by the Representatives was conveyed to the Honourable Minister through a letter signed by Honourable Pascal Obi, the Chairman of the House Committee, dated 5th May, 2020.
In the letter, Comrade Pascal Obi wrote: “I write on behalf of the 9th National Assembly House of Representatives Committee on Health Institution to you and your team to express our sincere appreciation of the highly commendable efforts being put in by you and your various teams at ensuring the curtailing of the COVID-19 in Nigeria.”
The Reps singled out for particular mention, “The patriotism exhibited by the various professional associations and unions in collaborating among themselves and with Government” through the Federal Ministry of Health as “unprecedented.” They mentioned in particular, “The Honourable Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (who called off their strikes in some States and FCT to put in their best), JOHESU, and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, etc who sheathed their swords of demands from Federal Government and encouraged their members to put in their best at defeating the people’s common enemy of the time – CORONA VIRUS.”
In further commendation of “the professionalism, courage and resolute determination to win the battle against COVID-19 Pandemic in record time”, the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institution expressed the note that they may not have been in the field with the Health Team “physically as in direct over sighting”, but they “closely monitor the activities through other genuine legal and scientific methods.” The Committee said, “the directive of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces based on the advice from the Health Team with the support of the leadership of the National Assembly, for the total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and FCT made the idea of physical oversight impossible.”
The Reps remarked that the record of the Health Team under the supervision of the Honourable Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire so far, “points towards record-breaking which the World Health Organization (WHO) and other like-minded groups are already acknowledging.”
In the same vein, DAAR Communications PLC has expressed “utmost and deep appreciation” for the efforts the Federal Government put in place in the treatment and overall management” of “the Chairman”, Raymond Dokpesi Jr, his “family members and staff of DAAR Communications PLC that recently tested positive to COVID-19.”
The letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman, DAAR Communications PLC, Raymond Dokpesi Jr, dated May 18, 2020, said the efforts of the Health Team under Dr. Osagie Ehanire “rekindles hope that our dear country can attain the best of standards in health care delivery if the right funding, processes and procedures are adopted.”
The DAAR Communications PLC Chairman pledged on behalf of his organization, the readiness to “continue to provide the support needed to improve Nigeria’s health system and indeed, other facets of our national life.”
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director, Information, Media & Public Realtions,
FMoH.
Intensify Efforts At Surveillance, Contact Tracing To Maximize COVID-19 Laboratories’ Testing Capacity – Dr. Ehanire Charges State Governments As More Testing Labs Are Added
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has called on State Governments to intensify efforts at surveillance and contact tracing as the nation’s testing capacity is currently being underutilized. He made this call at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Press Briefing held on Thursday, 21st May, 2020.
Dr. Ehanire disclosed that there are currently 26 laboratories spread in 17 States, bringing about increase in the Nation’s testing capacity. The Honourable Minister however said, “While our daily testing capacity is presently at 2,500, unfortunately, we are presently able to test less than 1,500. This is due largely to inadequate surveillance and contact tracing in the States. As more laboratories come on board, I would like to use this opportunity to call on State Governments to increase the number of surveillance teams so that more testing can be done in the laboratories”, he said.
The Honourable Minister of Health also revealed that new key performance indicators (KPIs) to track surveillance strategic directions and programmes have been developed and there is going to be collaborations with States to establish protocols that improve communication and reporting.
The Honourable Minister informed that the nation has recorded a total of 6,677 confirmed cases in 34 states and the F.C.T out of which I, 840 have been successfully treated and discharged. Unfortunately we have recorded 200 deaths in 25 States and the F.C.T as 21st May, 2020. He however added that caution is being applied to the numbers to ensure that the figures announced are accurate. “Sometimes, there are errors, but we correct them as soon as they are noticed”, he added.
Dr. Ehanire also said that finding from the analysis of the deaths shows that nearly half of them died at home. “Of those who died at home, about 50% did not show any symptom. “This underscores my earlier emphasis on the need for those who test positive to report for treatment. I would also advise those who have taken the test and are awaiting result to heed the advisory to self-isolate from friends, wear face masks and observe hand and respiratory hygiene until your result is released. By so doing, you will be protecting your family, your friends and your community.”
Dr. Ehanire further told the Media that the fact finding team that was sent to Cross River State have returned and have been able to identify areas of need in the State. He said that the Federal Government shall explore the possibility of upgrading laboratories in the State to ensure ease of testing when suspected cases are identified. Similarly, he stated that the development in Lagos where doctors are restricting their services to between the hours of 8am and 6pm because of the enforcement of the dusk to dawn curfew by security operatives has been resolved.” “I have been in touch with the NMA chairman in Lagos State and the State Commissioner of Health. I wish to thank our doctors and other health workers for their understanding. Our health workers are our foot soldiers and we would ensure that they are able to discharge their duties unhindered.” He also hinted that, with the scale up training of health workers on infection prevention and control, infection among our health workers has reduced significantly.
The Minister urged Nigerians to adhere to the advisories and guideline by the PTF such as proper usage of the masks, social distancing, hand washing, adding that the stay-at-home advisory needs to be more strictly adhered to; and citizens need not undercut the ban on inter-State travel.
Eunice Akro
For: Director, Information, Media & Public Relations.
COVID-19: We Will Ensure Right Protocol To Source Local Treatment Solutions From Traditional Medical Practitioners Says Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.
The Honourable Minister of State, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora has expressed the commitment of Government to source for local treatment solutions to the challenge posed by COVID-19. He said the net for the search is being casted wide to source for solutions put forward by Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) by ensuring that the right protocol is executed.
Dr. Mamora made this declaration today, Thursday, 21st May, 2020 when he led the Team of Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to engage with Traditional Medical and Herbal Practitioners who made submissions through the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Department of the Ministry.
The engagement was by teleconferencing with some practitioners, especially those making new claims which have not been listed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and subjected to trials, being physically present, while others attended online. In all, 17 Claimants participated in the novel FMoH meeting with the TMPs.
The Honourable Minister of State said the Ministry is determined to facilitate the process of sourcing for local treatment solutions from the TMPs through its relevant Agencies which also participated in the meeting. Dr. Mamora, who expressed his deep respect for the right processes of adopting drugs for treatment said that for both orthodox medical practitioners and traditional medical or herbal practitioners, “the sky is wide enough to accommodate all birds”, declared that “We must engage to chart a way forward.”
The Honourable Minister of State earlier remarked that everyone knows that some medicines were discovered from nature, mainly plants, water, earth, sun and animal. “Hence it is pertinent to say that plants have been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history.” He cited examples in the Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings which describe medicinal uses of plants: “Indigenous cultures (such as Africans and Native Americans) use herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medicinal systems (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used”, Dr. Mamora said.
The Honourable Minister also declared the recognition of the FMoH for the role of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in health care delivery especially at the primary health care level. “Accordingly”, Dr. Mamora said, “the Ministry has shown interest in the development, promotion, commercialization and institutionalization of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Practices in Nigeria. He listed some steps taken by Government in recognizing TCAM practices to include:
i. Establishment of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development
ii. The development and launching of the Traditional Medicine Policy for Nigeria 2007, currently under review;
iii. The production of the first edition of Nigeria Herbal Pharmacopoeia in 2008, currently working on the 2nd edition;
iv. Listing of herbal medicinal products by NAFDAC
v. The upgrading of the Traditional Medicine Development Division to the Department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2018 and the annual celebration of the African Traditional Medicine Day on 31stof August.
vi. The on-going collaboration with the University of Benin to set up a TCAM Institute and TCAM Hospitals; with plans to commence work on the database of TCAM practitioners in Nigeria and to train them in collaboration with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).
vii. On-going process to ensure that the TCAM Bill is sent to the Federal Executive Council for consideration.
Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora assured the participants in the meeting of the Ministry’s resolve to forward submissions of the meeting to NAFDAC and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for urgent necessary action saying that “The outcome of their analysis and evaluation on your products will inform appropriate recommendation to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.”
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director, Information, Media & Public Relations
FMoH.
Demise Of Dr. Haliru Alhassan: Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Nigeria Labour Congress Condole With FMoH
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni has condoled with the Federal Ministry of Health over the death of Dr. Haliru Alhassan, a former Minister of Health under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Through a statement signed by the NLC President, Comrade Wabba said “The death of the former Minister comes with sadness given his contribution to nation building, particularly in the health sector.”
Dr. Haliru Alhassan was Minister of Health, Co-Lead Nigeria Ebola Response Team between March, 2015 and May, 2015. The late Dr. Haliru Alhassan was also the Minister of State for Health and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication in Nigeria between February 2014 and March, 2015.
In condoling with the Federal Ministry of Health, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni urged the Ministry to accept the heartfelt condolences of not just the NLC but also that of his family.
Elites Who Test Positive To COVID-19 But Refuse To Get Treatment At Isolation Centres Are Increasing Fatality Figures - Dr. Ehanire.
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has expressed concern over the increasing number of avoidable deaths from COVID-19 due to the attitude or carelessness of the elites who chose to receive home care when tested positive, rather than seek medical attention at Government Isolation Centres where they are well catered for, by team of experts at such centres.
According to Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the statistics of COVID-19 fatalities can be “linked with preexisting diseases” and those who are positive “are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they develop sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital. ”The Honourable Minister gave this revelation at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Press Briefing on Tuesday, 19th May, 2020.
He disclosed that as at 18th May, 2020, a total of 216 new covid-19 cases had been recorded in Nigeria, the breakdown being as follows: Lagos(74), Katsina(33), Oyo(19), Kano (17), Edo(13), Zamfara(10), Ogun(8), Gombe(8) Borno(8), Bauchi(7), Kwara(7), FCT(4), Kaduna (3), Enugu (3) and Rivers(2), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 6,175. The Honourable Minister added that the numbers of patients who have been treated and discharged from care is 1,644, with 191 deaths were recorded in 26 states and the FCT. Dr. Ehanire also expressed the observation that “breathing complications in COVID-19 patients can arise with little or no notice”, saying “this is an added reason why all persons should seek medical attention when they test positive.”
The Minister further stated that Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has been working with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen the response activities of the Federal Government in order to improve on the isolation Centres across the country so as to continue to provide diagnostic commodities and facilities; with Yenagoa and Oshogbo being the most recent addition.
Dr. Ehanire further disclosed that the Ministerial Task Team that was deployed to Cross River State have arrived the State and are working closely with relevant State Authorities to review and evaluate present status and needs of the State while the Team to Kano reported improvements in the processes and indices of Kano, and also of strategies to control increasing cases of covid-19 infection in the entire region, by ramping up testing, isolation and case management capabilities. The Kano team also paid a fact finding visit to Borno State where they made recommendations on supporting the strategy as well as providing hands-on training and confidence building of Health care workers.
The Minister reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining essential services in both private and public hospitals throughout the country, “because of the serious harm that arises from neglecting routine healthcare Services like Reproductive, Maternal Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH), immunization, chronic disease management, all due to fear of COVID-19 or sole focus on COVID-19, hence the inclusion of officials of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Department of Family Health whose assignments are to Press for restoration of normal medical services, in the mission to States.
Speaking on standard risk prevention protocols, the Minister in his usual manner reiterated correctness in the use of masks: “I urge abiding by the mandatory and correct use of masks by all of us, each for the protection of the other. Masks must be worn and washed daily, ironed, where possible. Masks should cover mouth and nose and should not be left under the chin during close quarter conversation, lest its purpose is defeated. New understanding is that droplet dispersal takes place even during normal speech and common use of masks can significantly limit risk of transmission, especially in close settings. Tissues must be used when coughing, sneezing and then disposed.”
He therefore enjoined all citizens to abide strictly by all the protocols on COVID-19 especially the stay-at-home advisory, ban on interstate travel, proper adherence to social distancing.
Blessing Egbo (Senior Information Officer)
For: Director, Information, Media & Public Relations
FMoH.
Nigeria Marks World Hypertension Day With Charge To Everyone To Check Blood Pressure Regularly
Thursday 17th May, 2020 - Nigeria joined the rest of the global community to commemorate World Hypertension Day, to educate the public and increase awareness of hypertension which is also known as high blood pressure.
The theme for this year as revealed in an address about the commemoration by the Honourable Minister for Health, read on his behalf by the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora is “Know your numbers.”
This disclosure came to fore at the daily Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Press Briefing of Tuesday, 19th May, 2020 where the Honourable Minister of State, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora who is also a member of the PTF delivered the address of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who had to attend the ongoing 73rd World Health Assembly (73rd WHA) which normally holds in Geneva, Switzerland but the 2020 73rd Edition is holding through teleconferencing due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
The Honourable Minister of Health by the theme of the 2020 World Hypertension Day, which is “Know your numbers”, encouraged everyone to check their blood pressure regularly.
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director, Information, Media & Public Relations
FMoH.
73rd World Health Assembly Held Virtually Amidst COVID-19, Dr. Osagie Ehanire Attends, Briefs Of Efforts, Progress By Nigeria In Combating Global Pandemic
As the 73rd World Health Assembly gets underway, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on Monday 18th of January 2020, attended the first ever virtual World Health Assembly (WHA) with delegation from all World Health Organization (WHO) members States in attendance, where he briefed the Assembly of the efforts and progress made by the Nigerian Government in combating the ravaging Corona virus pandemic.
Dr. Ehanire while delivering his speech said that, well before the first case was reported in the Country, the Nigeria Government had put in place a robust preparedness and response plan of early screening with thermal scanners and collection of health and travel history information from arriving passengers at all points of entry, strengthening infection prevention and control measures.
The Honourable Minister of Health further reported to the assembly that with the discovery of the first index case in Nigeria on the 27th of February 2020, Nigeria sets up of a Task Force on COVID-19 to coordinate a multi-sectoral effort to contain the spread, mitigate impact on citizens’ lives, provide policy direction, set priorities and mobilize resources to support and coordinate the National Emergency Operation.
Dr. Ehanire also said that there were also “A 5-week lockdown instituted in 4 high burden States” and strict policing of the air gateways for COVID-19 importation to Nigeria, disclosing however, that the lockdown “has been relaxed to allow essential economic activities.” “All land, air and sea boarders have been sealed to all, but emergency and essential services”, the Honourable Minister said.
The Honourable Minister of Health further reported to the World Health Assembly that “Nigeria has scaled up testing, surveillance risk communication, isolation and case management capacity with increased health workers training to curtail infection in the line of duty with an assurance of hazard bonuses and insurance cover.” He added that “Non-pharmaceutical measures have been taken to reduce risk of transmission to include closure of domestic air and rail passenger service, prohibition of non-essential interstate road travel and a nationwide dust to dawn curfew as well as mandatory supervised 14 days quarantine for persons arriving Nigeria.”
Dr. Ehanire who sat through the hours-long the virtual Assembly meeting also added that “The use of cloth mask is mandatory for all persons outside their homes, to leave medical grade mask to frontline health workers.” He said: “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), diagnostic, medical devices and kits have been supplied to health care facilities.”
The Minister revealed to his audience that “Nigeria has elicited new level of collaboration between the private and public sectors and amongst nation and agencies since the pandemic, which will hopefully develop and transform the health sectors around the world.” “A National Economic Sustainability Committee has been set up to develop a comprehensive response to socio-economic disruptions and distraction caused by the pandemic and chart away into the post COVID-19 era”, he added.
Dr. Ehanire also reported that “In cushioning the effects of the hardship caused by the pandemic on the citizenry, a State-sponsored stimulus package has been made available to help micro, small and medium scale enterprise to recovery with social palliatives put in place to alleviate impact on the poor and vulnerable.” Nigeria, he said “is studying options to rebuild its health system, using all lessons learnt from this pandemic and have made it a point to keep essential non-COVID-19 health services alive especially Reproduction Maternal Newborn Child Health (RMNCH) and immunization at primary health care level.”
The Honourable Minister of Health also disclosed to the Health Assembly that “Nigeria has since remained Polio free since the last case was reported in August 2016 and strives to maintain the status.”
Dr. Ehanire confirmed that Nigeria is participating in and supporting the WHO-led solidarity drug trials and other research initiatives aimed at finding vaccines and developing treatment options. He congratulated the President and other officials on their election to steer the 73rd session of the WHA, whilst thanking and recognizing the achievements of the WHO under the leadership of Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus; the UN Agencies partners, Countries and Organizations who have extended a generous hand of solidarity to Nigeria during this trying period.
Blessing Efem
For: Director (Information, Media & Public Relations)
Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has reiterated the importance of adhering to public advisories declaring that such should not be an issue for government to legislate on or use security officers to enforce before the public adheres to them. “I shall reiterate again the importance of adhering to public health advisories (wearing our face masks, observing social distancing, practicing hand washing or sanitizing, standard respiratory hygiene, avoiding crowds and all non-essential travel). The importance of these and similar measures is such that compliance should be taken as a civic duty and obligation for every citizen, where each should be responsible for the other. As such, enforcement or policing should not be necessary, for what is meant to preserve life and health. Therefore I call for considerate attitude and social adjustment to the challenges we face at this moment.”
This much and others were dwelt on by Dr. Ehanire in his address delivered at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Press Briefing on Friday, 15th May, 2020. Dr. Osagie Ehanire said “adherence to advisory against interstate travel and compliance with other simple measures like use of masks and avoiding crowds will significantly mitigate the burden” of COVID-19 infection and spread along with “more diligent testing, treatment, isolation and tracing.”
The Honourable Minister of Health also revealed the statistics of COVID-19 spread as at 14th May, 2020: “193 new covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past day in 15 states- Lagos(58), Kano(46), Jigawa(35), Yobe (12), FCT(9), Ogun(7), Plateau(5), Gombe(5) Imo(4), Edo(3), Kwara(3), Borno(3), Bauchi (1), Nasarawa (1), Ondo(1), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria over the 5,000 line to 5,162 in 34 States and the FCT. Till date, 1180 patients have been treated and discharged from hospital care and 167 deaths have sadly been recorded.”
Further breakdown was given in terms of the case gender ratio which he said remains at about 70 to 30 percent for men and women respectively, while case fatality hovers around 3%” said Dr. Ehanire.
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director, Information, Media & Public Realtions.
Honourable Ministers Of Health & Federal Capital Territory Set Up Committee To Run ThisDay COVID-19 Centre, Jointly Inspect 560-Bed-Space FCTA COVID-19 Isolation Centre At Idu
The Federal Ministries of Health and FCT have held a ministerial meeting Thursday 14th May, 2020 in which they agreed on “a firm, synergistic collaboration and cooperation framework to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory.”
At the meeting, a joint committee led by the Honourable Minister of State for Health (HMSH), Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora and the Perm Secretaries of both Ministries has been created to manage the newly donated ThisDay Dome COVID-19 treatment facility, which was recently handed over to the two governmental authorities.
Also at the meeting, the initial medical team to manage the ThisDay Dome COVID-19 treatment facility is to be headed by the Chief Medical Director of Irua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Irrua.
An inspection visit was later paid by the teams from Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) led by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire but including the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora and the Honourable Minister for Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello to the 600 bed FCTA COVID-19 treatment centre at Idu, a flagship project of the FCT.
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire after the inspection expressed satisfaction at the facilities and the medical teams on ground at the FCTA COVID-19 treatment centre, Idu whilst his counterpart at the FCT also told him that the Asokoro General Hospital too is now available to cater for COVID-19 victims with the evacuation of patients suffering from other ailments from Asokoro General Hospital to other FCT Hospitals.
The FMOH and the FCTA Authorities are looking forward to taking care of COVID-19 cases in the adjoining areas to the Federal Capital, Abuja from Mararaba and Karu (in Nasarawa State), Suleija (in Niger State) and from the part of Kogi State that are close to Abuja.
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director, Information.
Federal Ministry of Health.
FG Provides Technical Support To States’ Ministries Of Health As It Issues Mandatory Institutional Quarantine Guidelines To Returnees From Diaspora
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has disclosed that the Federal Government is closely monitoring and reviewing the unfolding situations in some high burden States where the corona virus pandemic appears to have advanced, and have dispatched teams of medical experts from the Federal Ministry of Health to such States to provide technical support to their States’ Ministries of Health.
Dr. Ehanire also declared that Mandatory Institutional Quarantine Guidelines have been printed by the FMoH through the NCDC for returnees from Diaspora. With three new molecular laboratories added, one in Benin City and two in Port-Harcourt, the Honourable Minister revealed that the total of molecular laboratories in the country now is twenty-five.
These were revealed by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Press Briefing where he made it known that as of the Tuesday, 12th of May, 2020, Nigeria has a total of 4641 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 34 States including the FCT. 242 new cases recorded.
Dr. Ehanire updated the nation that the team of medical experts sent to Kano State has been successful in stabilizing the State's health system, lessening anxiety amongst health workers who are to restart routine service delivery, with no new infections of health workers recorded in recent times, as those who have recovered await certification to resume work.
In a similar development, Dr. Osagie Ehanire disclosed that experts from the FMoH are presently in Bauchi State on a fact finding mission to work with the State Government to look into the unexplained deaths in Azare, Bauchi State.
The Honourable Minister also disclosed that the team of medical experts sent to Katsina and Jigawa States identified needs in those States to include a molecular laboratory needed in Katsina to reduce backlog of pending test and turnaround time for results. “Other high burden States grappling with the epidemic control issues will be offered similar support”, the Minister stated.
Speaking further, Dr. Ehanire revealed that the FMoH is working with its Agencies, other organs of government and multinational organizations in continuous efforts to control the transmission of the pandemic with tried, tested and innovative measures. The nature of the outbreak is such that the sustainability of any strategy may be challenged as time goes by with evolving realities at home and across the globe; while encouraging the organs of State as well as the Port Health Services not to relent in the good work of maintaining vigilance at our borders.
The Honourable Minister of Health commended the initiative of the Nigeria Governor's Forum (NGF) for giving each other mutual support by rallying available human resource for Health Volunteers from States to support other States with high burden and manpower shortages.
Blessing Efem (Senior Information Officer)
For: Director of Information.
