FRONT PAGE NEWS (201)
Nigeria's COVID-19 Fight Receives A Boost As Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora Receives Samsung's 5000 Testing Kits
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health has received 5, 000 testing kits from Samsung Heavy Industries, Nigeria to boost the containment of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora the received the items from a delegation of Samsung Heavy Industries, Nigeria led by Ju-Yeol LEE, Counsellor/Economy, Embassy of Republic of Korea at the Ministry’s headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
The Minister described the donation as very significant to Nigeria as they are very important saying that testing is the starting point before isolation and treatment of COVID-19 positive persons. Dr. Mamora assured the delegate that the testing kits would be delivered to appropriate testing locations.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora congratulated the Republic of Korea for defeating and coming out from COVID-19 successfully, adding that with their technical supports, Nigeria would very soon come out of the pandemic disease.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation of Samsung Heavy Industries, Nigeria, Ju-Yeol LEE, Counsellor/Economy in the Embassy of Republic of Korea in Nigeria said that its companies produce a good number of items that could be vital in the fight against Corona Virus.
He assured that Samsung Heavy Industries, Nigeria and Republic of Korea would continue to partner with Nigeria to ensure that COVID-19 is scrapped from the country. He commended the efforts of the Health Ministry and the Federal Government on the steps put in place to contain the disease.
Brendam Nwokike
For: Director of Information,
Federal Ministry of Health.
21 Laboratories Nationwide Are Now Operational For COVID-19 Testing - Dr. Ehanire
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Esagie Ehanire has revealed that 21 Testing Laboratories are now operational nationwide as his Ministry works to drive up demand.
“The Laboratories in Kano were directed to work in shifts, to reduce the turnaround time for testing, just as the Ministry of Health's Task Team to Kano is collaborating intimately and fully engaged in remediation activities, strongly emphasizing training and capacity building for all personnel, in order to help rebuild manpower in State and Federal health facilities.” Dr. Ehabire disclosed this today, 7th May, 2020 at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Press Briefing.
The Health Ministry’s Task Team, the Honourable Minister disclosed, includes non-medical personnel such as cleaners, porters and security guards, especially in the COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres. “The intensive training is essential to minimise the risk of infection of personnel in the line of duty, which is becoming a major challenge in various parts of Nigeria. We do not have the latitude of having so many essential health workers in treatment or Isolation, and being out of service in these critical times.”
The Honourable Minister also disclosed that he just led the Ministry’s team to a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, at which their Agencies demonstrated impressive innovative capabilities to participate in finding solutions to our problems of shortages. We are convinced that Nigeria has the potential to manufacture many of the commodities we presently import, which present global demand also make difficult to come by.
Dr. Ehanire also reported the arrival of the first batch of Nigerian nationals, who were successfully repatriated yesterday evening to Lagos from Dubai. He said that they have entered into the mandatory supervised 14-day quarantine, in 2 designated hotels, in line with laid down protocols. “They will be tested for COVID-19 and any person testing positive shall be invited to a treatment facility.” Ehanire appealed to the returning Nigeria citizens to “bear with us and cooperate with the authorities”, especially if they perceive imperfections in the arrangements by the health authorities, as “this is a test run, the first of these exercises.”
The Honourable Minister of Health also requests all states to embark on preparing at least 300 bed spaces for COVID-19 isolation and treatment. “As testing is scaled up and more persons with COVID-19 infection are identified, it is necessary that they are safely and securely isolated and treated with dignity until they test negative, to break our chain of transmission.”
Dr. Ehanire also disclosed that Federal Ministry of Health’s Team has left for Kogi State to ensure that the State has adequate testing capacity and also to advocate for the engagement of traditional rulers and community leaders in surveillance efforts of the State.
Similar team, the Minister revealed will soon depart Abuja for Cross River State.
Olujimi Oyetomi
Director of Information
Federal Ministry of Health.
Combating COVID-19, FG Gets More Support As UN's Basket Fund For Nigeria Enlarges
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has promised that the Basket Fund set up by the United Nations to facilitate the pooling of resources to support efforts at combating the COVID-19 pandemic will be put to purposeful use when received.
The Minister made this promise when he received a team of representatives of the United Nations (UN) led by Edward Keller, the UN Resident Coordinator in his office, today, Thursday 7th May, 2020.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire expressed delight at the initiative and also decried persistent incidences of some religious and community leaders who till now choose to have their own perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic which is different from what scientists have presented.
Earlier, the UN Resident Coordinator has stated that priorities to the Basket Fund are built around the ten pillars of the National Multi-sectoral Pandemic Response Plan.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora at the occasion drew attention to the major issue of the need to make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available for health workers to enable them have a sense of protection.
Eunice Akro
For: Director, Information
Federal Ministry of Health
Health Minister Expresses Delight & Gratitude For Protective Face Masks Donations By Israeli Embassy
The Honourable Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire has expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Simon Ben-Soshan who led Officials of the Embassy to the Ministry to donate a first installment of 2,000 protective facemasks to Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health given the fact that the situation of COVID-19 pandemic as it is in Israel is worse than what Nigeria is faced with.
The Israeli Ambassador, H.E Simon Ben-Soshan had earlier reported to the gathering of officials of the Federal Ministry of Health that the situation of COVID-19 in Israel is such that “16, 500 COVID-19 positive cases are recorded with 239 deaths from Corona.”
H.E. Simon Ben-Soshan said his country planned a donation of 10, 000 of such face masks printed with 3D to “medical staff who are in the frontline in Nigeria” and that the initial figures of 2,000 brought to the Federal Ministry of Health today, Thursday, 7th May, 2020 were designed in Israel but produced in Nigeria by a Nigerian-Israeli Company - Skill-G Nigeria. The Israeli Ambassador proudly announced that “the production of the face masks were produced in Nigeria by Nigeria engineers”, but regretted that the State of Israel would have love to donate all the planned 10, 000 at once but that the production of technique is such that only 100 of such masks could be produced per day.
Ambassador Simon Ben-Soshan made reference to the fact that notwithstanding the fact that Israeli Embassy in Nigeria evacuated some of its citizens from Nigeria in the wake of the pandemic’s index case, “only the women and the aged” he said, leaving the boys and the men behind who have been working and donated dozens of thousands of packages with food items and relief materials to Nigerians from the beginning of the lockdown, where they were needed the most.
In response, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who gave a rundown of the COVID-19 situation to the visiting Israeli delegation, the achievements so far in the most ravaged areas of Nigeria and the challenges expressed delight at receiving the donations from the Embassy promising that the equipment will be deployed immediately. The Honourable Minister however expressed his regrets and conveyed the condolences of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the State of Israel for the lives lost to the pandemic.
Individual, Collective Behaviour & Urgency Of Behaviour Change Communication Underlie Stemming COVID-19 Positive Cases – Dr. Ehanire
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has stated that much now depends on individual and collective behaviour and the urgency of behavior change communication if Nigeria must stem the tide of expected rise in the number of confirmed cases spread of COVID-19 now that the pandemic has entered the stage of community transmission. He also stated that “Knowledge so far gathered about COVID-19 needs to be converted into practice, because our safety, now more than ever, depends on all of us.”
Dr. Ehanire declared these at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Press briefing held on 6th of May, 2020. The Honourable Minister of Health revealed that as at 11.00pm on 5th of May, 148 persons had tested positive, bringing the total to 2,950 confirmed to have COVID-19 in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Of the figure, Ehanire said 481 persons have been discharged and 98 COVID-19 related fatalities have sadly been recorded.
Further breakdown on State by State bases as given by the Honourable Minister is as follows: 148 new cases were reported in 17 states as follows: 43 in Lagos, 32 in Kano, Katsina (9), FCT (10), Zamfara (14), Taraba (7), Borno (7), Ogun (6), Oyo (5), Bauchi (3), Edo (3), Kaduna (3), Adamawa (2), Gombe (2), Plateau (2), Sokoto (1), Kebbi (1).
Dr. Ehanire stated that the continued rise in the number of COVID-19 positives is “not unexpected” due to “prevailing circumstances in certain States; and also for the fact that “We are clearly in community transmission phase.” The Health Minister insisted that “We are to adhere to public health advisories - wearing our face masks, observing social distancing, practising hand washing or sanitizing, standard respiratory hygiene, avoiding crowded places and all manner of non-essential travel, as well as reporting when we feel unwell, or someone close to us has symptoms of Infection.”
Dr. Osagie Ehanire cautioned that If Nigerians) fail to convert the knowledge gained about COVID-19 into practice, “we expose ourselves and our loved ones to risk and inadvertently increase the period this virus will be with us and make life worse for all of us.” The Honourable Minister of Health gave examples of some present practices which are not right and can aggravate COVID-19 spread as:
“Large crowds reported at certain events”; and “The movement and repatriation of persons from one State to the other” “do contribute to the problem and do not indicate a good understanding of the urgency of the situation.”
The Minister also seized the opportunity of the PTF Press Briefing for 6th May, 2020 to let the nation know what his Ministry has been engaged at lately: “While we are striving to increase our testing capacity, we have noted the complaints about turnaround time to get the results of tests conducted. We are doing what we can to resolve them.”
He added: “We have also continued to train and retrain our health care workers as well as provide them with the necessary personal protective equipment. Community mobilizers have been deployed at the grassroots to continue to sensitize our people through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.”
Dr. Ehanire also disclosed that he participated earlier this week in a teleconference of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee organized by NPHCDA in which the need for urgent engagement of all traditional, religious and community gatekeepers was emphasized and agreed on.
“We are encouraging and supporting States to increase the number of isolation centres nationwide, and we are extremely grateful to Corporate Organizations and Philanthropists who have donated Isolation facilities, diagnostic equipment, commodities and sundry supplies relevant to our response efforts to COVID-19 threat”, the Honourable Minister stated.
The Health Minister also mentioned the example of Chief Nduka Obaigbena who donated his ThisDay Dome, which has been purposed by the donor, to be a 320-bed Isolation Centre with a 10 bed ICU as worthy of emulation, saying that the new Isolation Centre “will be commissioned next week to significantly ease the supply of bed spaces.”
Dr. Osagie Ehanire gave updates on Kano, Katsina and Sokoto as follows: “With regard to Kano, progress has been made in collaboration efforts with the State EOC to restore routine medical services to hospitals and further drive the ongoing investigations.” He added that “Organized ambulance service is already in operation bringing relief to citizens who need to access medical services, especially in view of restrictions of movement and also in emergency situations.”
“The Federal Ministry of Health is sending supporting teams to Sakoto and Katsina for training and capacity building in case management and Infection prevention and control in the hospital setting. Other States shall follow at short intervals, to assist the State Ministries of Health in their response to the COVID-19 threat.”
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has inspected the ThisDay Dome Abuja which is being converted to an Isolation centre donated by the Publisher, ThisDay Newspaper, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, who said the multipurpose centre built for events can as well host the COVID-19 case management.
Dr. Ehanire who was accompanied to do the inspection by top management team of Federal Ministry of Health expressed satisfaction with the conversion of the ThisDay Dome to Isolation Centre which is almost 98% ready fitted with utility supply and other necessities for COVID-19 response. For the 100% completion and commissioning, workers are seen working frantically to put finishing touches to the Isolation Centre which has bed space capacity to hold a great number of patients.
With the easing of lockdown which was imposed because of COVID-19 pandemic today, Monday, 4th May, 2020, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has urged Nigerians to “be extra vigilant and be compliant with accompanying measures and guidelines that are meant to assure that we do not lose the health gains we have made so far, since our COVID-19 statistics are of considerable concern.”
The Honourable Minister made this call at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Press Briefing held on Monday, 4th May, 2020. Dr. Ehanire anchored his caution on the awareness that “countries who eased or lifted restrictions, suffered an increase in new cases.”
The Health Minister gave the breakdown of the nation’s COVID-19 statistics as at Sunday, 3rd May, to be 170 persons tested positive, giving a total of 2,558 confirmed in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Of the 2, 558 national figure, 400 persons have been discharged and 87 deaths have been recorded. Ehanire gave further breakdown on State by State basis: Of the 170 new cases, there were 39 in Lagos, 29 in Kano, 24 in Ogun, 18 in Bauchi, 15 in Kaduna, 12 each in FCT and Sokoto, 8 in Katsina, 7 in Borno, 3 in Nasarawa, 2 in Adamawa, and 1 in Oyo.
The Honourable Minister drew the necessary lessons for Nigerians in his words: “We can say we are fully in community transmission mode and our strategy is to take all persons who test positive to Isolation, even if they have no symptoms, so that they do not risk infecting others, who may be more vulnerable due to other diseases. We need to protect, not only ourselves, but each other and our loved ones. We need to make sacrifices today for a better tomorrow.”
Dr. Ehanire also gave insight into the Kano State’s situation which has confounded many health experts: “With regard to Kano, the Federal Ministry of Health is strengthening its support for Kano with service delivery and training in consultation with His Excellency, the Governor.” The Honourable Minister revealed what his Ministry and its partners are doing about Kano. He said, “The setbacks in routine hospital service delivery in Kano are being addressed by line experts from the Ministry, whether from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Department of Family Health and a pathologist who is participating in the investigation of the unexplained deaths in Kano. The team shall be reinforced according to needs expressed by the State Government to strengthen its healthcare structure.”
Dr. Ehanire further said that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is working with Kano State’s primary health/community health workforce to sensitize the population on covid19, at grassroots level and expand our testing capacity.” The Minister reiterated his call to all Kano State citizens to cooperate with health workers and for those testing positive to comply with invitations to enter Isolation care.
The Minister further urged all health care facilities, both private and public not to reject persons seeking medical help, especially in emergencies saying “It is unethical not to attend to persons in distress”; while also urging citizens to go to the hospital when not feeling well and to cooperate by giving accurate information especially with regard to travel history.”
Dr. Ehanire revealed that Nigeria has indicated interest to the World Health Organisation to be part of the global solidarity trial of medicines being tried to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic”, stating that “efforts are ongoing to also conduct research here in Nigeria.” The Minister assured that “Other drugs can be added based on emerging evidence”, with “the maintenance of ethical standards and safety of our people.”
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, while responding to questions from media representatives at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Press briefing held on 1st of May, 2020 has declared that if there is any truth in the claims that some health care facilities are demanding that patients should bring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before they can be treated, as "callous, illegal, unacceptable and condemnable." Dr. Mamora said if the claim is found to be true, "We will pursue remedial measures for the patient."
The Honourable Minister of State who blew hot against the claimed practice that some health care facilities are insisting that patients who are reporting for COVID-19 treatment must bring Personal Protection Equipment before they could access treatment, appealed to Nigerians to assist to furnish the Presidential Task Force and Federal Ministry of Health with exact culprits, "to enable us deal with them."
"If it is taking place in our Federal Government Hospitals or in our Tertiary Hospitals or States Hospitals, wherever, we will take appropriate action", Dr. Mamora emphatically declared. On the Medical Fact Finding Team despatched to Kano State at height of the unexplained deaths in the State, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora declared that Federal Ministry of Health has an interim report. "We have an interim report. It was to enable us know the level of engagement with Kano State Government and the State's COVID-19 Response Team."
The Honourable Minister of State for Health also said the interim report got on Kano, will help the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to determine the level of engagement that should be in place with non-State actors - Faith based organizations, Civil Society Organizations, etc, even beyond COVID-19". On what is being done with the interim report on Kano, Dr. Mamora disclosed that "We have assembled enough resources - human health resources and others to help Kano.
Laboratories which were hitherto shut down have been reopened. Even what you called verbal autopsy has been carried out, we have begun to strengthen all facilities on ground - testing kits, plans and equipment for isolation centres, PPE, ambulances, have been despatched to Kano."
The Honourable Minister of State for Health further disclosed that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would have been to Kano but for the demise of the father of the National Coordinator of the Interventionist body.
18 Labs Activated Nationwide As FG Forges Ahead In Fight Against COVID-19
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has disclosed that eighteen laboratories have been activated nationwide to facilitate increase in testing capacity so as to boost case management of patients infected with COVID-19.
At the Presidential Task Force Press Briefing on COVID-19 held today, 1st of May, Dr. Ehanire said that 204 new cases of infected persons were recorded in the last 24 hours in the country. The Honourable Minister further stated that against the background of this finding, "It is gratifying to note that two states in Nigeria have not recorded any case so far", the Minister said.
Today 1st of May, which is International Workers Day, the Minister seized the opportunity of the Workers Day to pay earnest tribute to workers of the healthcare system. He charged them to abide by laid down standards of infection prevention and control measures, urging them to treat all patients with care. He reminded Nigerians to demonstrate collective responsibility in the fight against COVID-19.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunibe Mamora, while responding to questions from media representatives at the briefing, declared that if there is any truth in the claims that some health care facilities are demanding that patients should bring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before they can be treated as "callous, illegal, unacceptable and condemnable." Dr. Mamora said if the claim is found to be true, "We will pursue remedial measures for the patient." The Honourable Minister of State appealed to Nigerians to assist to furnish the Presidential Task Force and Federal Ministry of Health with exact culprits, "to enable us deal with them." "If it is taking place in our Federal Government Hospitals or in our Tertiary Hospitals or States Hospitals, wherever, we will take appropriate action", Dr. Mamora emphatically declared.
On the Medical Fact Finding Team despatched to Kano State at height of the unexplained deaths in the State, Dr. Olorunibe Mamora declared that Federal Ministry of Health has an interim report. "We have an interim report. It was to enable us know the level of engagement with Kano State Government and the State's COVID-19 Response Team."
The Honourable Minister of State for Health also said the interim report got on Kano, will help the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to determine the level of engagement that should be in place with non-State actors - Faith based organizations, Civil Society Organizations, etc, even beyond COVID-19".
On what is being done with the interim report on Kano, Dr. Mamora disclosed that "We have assembled enough resources - human health resources and others to help Kano. Laboratories which were hitherto shut down have been reopened. Even what you called verbal autopsy has been carried out, we have begun to strengthen all facilities on ground - testing, isolation centres, PPE, ambulances, have been despatched to Kano."
The Honourable Minister of State for Health further disclosed that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would have been to Kano save for the demise of the father of the National Coordinator of the Interventionist body.
FG Tasks State Governments To Expedite Provision Of Isolation And Treatment Centres
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has called on State Governments to expedite efforts in setting up Isolation and Treatment Centres in their States in order to meet their obligations to their people as cases are expected to rise in the coming days as more testing ramps up.
Dr. Ehanire made it known that as of the 29th of April, 2020, no less than 1532 have been confirmed to have contacted COVID-19, with a record 825 tests done and 195 new cases identified. He appealed to Members of the National Assembly and their State counterparts to get involved in the disease surveillance and notification efforts in their constituencies, as well as actively support the drive to rapidly increase bed spaces for Isolation and treatment.
The Minister said that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) had completed plans to kick-start training and capacity building of Intensive Care workforce for various parts of the country, while enjoining the citizenry to adhere to public health advisory and guidelines from the Ministry, as these measures are critical and integral parts of the strategy to ease restrictions on the 4th of May.
