The Federal Government has warned the nation’s doctors and other medical personnel against unauthorized treatment of COVID-19 cases.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja, at the 27th joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
This is as he said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) routinely replenishes stocks of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to State Emergency Operations Centres (SEOCs) and the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions to ensure that the nation’s health workers are protected.
“I again appeal to all Health professionals and associated personnel, to diligently follow all safety and infection prevention and control protocols both inside and outside Health facilities and not to indulge in unauthorized treatment of COVID-19 cases.
“All healthcare professionals and associated personnel should diligently follow safety infection prevention and control protocols – both inside and outside healthcare facilities, and not to indulge in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19 cases,” Ehanire said.
He said the appeal was to reduce the incidences of health workers getting infected with the disease.
While saying that the government was committed to increasing its capacity for testing for coronavirus cases in the country, he said 21 laboratories nationwide are now operational for COVID-19 testing as government work to drive up demands.
Still working in Kano
On the situation in Kano, Ehanire said that a task team from the Federal Ministry of Health has been deployed and already working in the state and that the team is working with the state government and is fully engaged with activities that strongly emphasise training and capacity building for all personnel.
While saying said that the returnees from Dubai would be tested and those whose results return positive would be taken for treatment, he added that Nigeria now has 3,145 persons confirmed to have COVID-19 in 34 states and FCT.
He said the 195 persons who tested positive yesterday, were reported in 13 states distributed with 82 in Lagos, 30 in Kano, 19 in Zamfara, 18 in Sokoto, 10 in Borno, nine in FCT, eight in Oyo, five each in Gombe and Kebbi, four in Ogun, three in Katsina, and one each in Adamawa and Kaduna.
“Sadly, 103 COVID-19 related fatalities have been recorded, however, 534 persons have recovered and been discharged,” he added.
He said, “The Laboratories in Kano were directed to work in shifts, to reduce the turnaround time for testing. 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.
“This 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.
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