…Says no new infection of health workers in recent times
…NCDC opens 3 more testing labs
…Says isolation beds increasing in the country
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Tuesday disclosed
that Susan Idoko-Okpe, alleged to be Benue State’s COVID-19 index
case, has refused officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) permission to collect her sample for COVID-19 test,
and gives new conditions.
Susan, who is currently at the National Hospital, Abuja, said
that before her samples can be taken, it must be carried out by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and sent to the United Kingdom for
testing. She has been in quarantine since March 24, 2020 – 50 days
now.
Speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, Ehanire said: “She came in from the
United Kingdom. She’s due for another test which she has refused to
take and we strongly believe that by now she may be negative but we
need to document it because we also work with the guidelines by the
WHO.
“In order to document it I called her on phone and persuaded her
to just let them take the test and she gave me the condition that
first they must give her all her results from the past before she
will agree for just her specimen to be taken.
“I gave instructions and they took all the photocopies of her
results and gave it to her. But on the day of the test when the
NCDC got there, she told them that she wanted the test to be taken
by the World Health Organization and that the test should not be
done in Nigeria but that it should be sent to the United Kingdom.
That seem to be a very difficult order. It is becoming a very odd
drama.”
He added: “It was reported to me, so I called her again and
asked her why she changed the condition. She wrote a text to me
saying I should consult her lawyer.
“This was just yesterday, so we will continue with the lawyer
business. However, she is quite well and in good health and the
hospital authorities have also done their very best.”
Concerning updates on health workers who have tested positive
for COVID-19, the Minister explained that there have been no new
infections of health workers in recent times.
He said: “No new infections of health workers have been reported
in recent times, as those who have recovered are tested and
retested and are awaiting certification to resume work.
“The Ministry of Health has been closely monitoring and
reviewing the unfolding situation in some States, where COVID-19
appears to have gained ground. We had responded to the situation in
Kano by dispatching a team of medical experts to provide technical
support to the State Ministry of Health.
“A delegation of experts from the Ministry of Health is
presently in Bauchi State on a fact finding mission to work with
Bauchi State government and look into reports of unexplained deaths
in Azare, Bauchi State. The similar missions to Katsina and Jigawa
identified needs in those States, which include the need for a
molecular laboratory in Katsina to reduce the backlog of pending
tests and the turn-around time for results.
“We continue to ramp up COVID19 testing capacity by adding 3 new
molecular laboratories to our network: one at Benin City and 2 in
Port Harcourt, which brings the present total to 25. An Expert
Advisory Committee will assist with an audit of our laboratory
processes with a view to offering suggestions on strategies to
reduce testing turn-around time and other user interest
matters.”
The Minister also revealed that the numbers of isolation beds
for COVID-19 in the country have increased with the addition of the
Thisday Dome.
According to him, “The number of isolation centres and beds
nationwide is increasing with the This-Day Dome, commissioned in
Abuja today, and providing the most comprehensive panel of medical
services for COVID-19, including lab testing ICU, and dialysis. It
handed over to Federal Ministry of Health and the FCTA and signals
a landmark in collaborations between public and private sectors to
fight a common enemy.
“The Centre has wards and ICU Centre with Ventilators, X- Ray
and Dialysis; a 54gene Testing Mobile Lab complete with reagents –
with scalable 200 – 1,000 tests per day;
“It has a hotel and conference centre next door for use by
medical staff for 6 months and a CBN Medical Grant in direct
support to the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Capital
Development Authority (FCDA) for day to day management of the
isolation centre. There is also an industrial grade medical
incinerator.
“We shall make this facility operational in the coming days. I
use this opportunity to again enjoin State Governors to continue to
ensure they reach the isolation capacity target of 300 beds in
every state of the Federation, while calling on philanthropists to
support their efforts, including expanding the capacity for
tracing, testing isolation and treatment.”
…Says no new infection of health workers in recent times
…NCDC opens 3 more testing labs
…Says isolation beds increasing in the country
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Tuesday disclosed
that Susan Idoko-Okpe, alleged to be Benue State’s COVID-19 index
case, has refused officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) permission to collect her sample for COVID-19 test,
and gives new conditions.
Susan, who is currently at the National Hospital, Abuja, said
that before her samples can be taken, it must be carried out by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and sent to the United Kingdom for
testing. She has been in quarantine since March 24, 2020 – 50 days
now.
Speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, Ehanire said: “She came in from the
United Kingdom. She’s due for another test which she has refused to
take and we strongly believe that by now she may be negative but we
need to document it because we also work with the guidelines by the
WHO.
“In order to document it I called her on phone and persuaded her
to just let them take the test and she gave me the condition that
first they must give her all her results from the past before she
will agree for just her specimen to be taken.
“I gave instructions and they took all the photocopies of her
results and gave it to her. But on the day of the test when the
NCDC got there, she told them that she wanted the test to be taken
by the World Health Organization and that the test should not be
done in Nigeria but that it should be sent to the United Kingdom.
That seem to be a very difficult order. It is becoming a very odd
drama.”
He added: “It was reported to me, so I called her again and
asked her why she changed the condition. She wrote a text to me
saying I should consult her lawyer.
“This was just yesterday, so we will continue with the lawyer
business. However, she is quite well and in good health and the
hospital authorities have also done their very best.”
Concerning updates on health workers who have tested positive
for COVID-19, the Minister explained that there have been no new
infections of health workers in recent times.
He said: “No new infections of health workers have been reported
in recent times, as those who have recovered are tested and
retested and are awaiting certification to resume work.
“The Ministry of Health has been closely monitoring and
reviewing the unfolding situation in some States, where COVID-19
appears to have gained ground. We had responded to the situation in
Kano by dispatching a team of medical experts to provide technical
support to the State Ministry of Health.
“A delegation of experts from the Ministry of Health is
presently in Bauchi State on a fact finding mission to work with
Bauchi State government and look into reports of unexplained deaths
in Azare, Bauchi State. The similar missions to Katsina and Jigawa
identified needs in those States, which include the need for a
molecular laboratory in Katsina to reduce the backlog of pending
tests and the turn-around time for results.
“We continue to ramp up COVID19 testing capacity by adding 3 new
molecular laboratories to our network: one at Benin City and 2 in
Port Harcourt, which brings the present total to 25. An Expert
Advisory Committee will assist with an audit of our laboratory
processes with a view to offering suggestions on strategies to
reduce testing turn-around time and other user interest
matters.”
The Minister also revealed that the numbers of isolation beds
for COVID-19 in the country have increased with the addition of the
Thisday Dome.
According to him, “The number of isolation centres and beds
nationwide is increasing with the This-Day Dome, commissioned in
Abuja today, and providing the most comprehensive panel of medical
services for COVID-19, including lab testing ICU, and dialysis. It
handed over to Federal Ministry of Health and the FCTA and signals
a landmark in collaborations between public and private sectors to
fight a common enemy.
“The Centre has wards and ICU Centre with Ventilators, X- Ray
and Dialysis; a 54gene Testing Mobile Lab complete with reagents –
with scalable 200 – 1,000 tests per day;
“It has a hotel and conference centre next door for use by
medical staff for 6 months and a CBN Medical Grant in direct
support to the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Capital
Development Authority (FCDA) for day to day management of the
isolation centre. There is also an industrial grade medical
incinerator.
“We shall make this facility operational in the coming days. I
use this opportunity to again enjoin State Governors to continue to
ensure they reach the isolation capacity target of 300 beds in
every state of the Federation, while calling on philanthropists to
support their efforts, including expanding the capacity for
tracing, testing isolation and treatment.”