The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said it can only test for coronavirus (COVID-19) in areas of the country that are safe.
This is coming against the backdrop that some parts of the country, especially in the northern region, are experiencing some level of insurgent activities, unrest, and conflicts, which lowers the level of testing carried out in those places.
The Minister who made this known on Monday in Abuja at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19, explained that testing in conflict areas is very challenging. Howbeit, the Ministry will do its best to reach out to those in need of testing.
“Testing in conflict areas is a challenge. We will do the very best as possible, but you can only operate within the areas that are safe and if those who we know of are in those areas, the testing will be driven in that area to make sure that services are rendered as always.
“There is an active PCR laboratory in Maiduguri and all measures have been taken to ensure that nothing disturbs its function,” he said.
Ehanire also advised residents of Lagos, FCT and Kano, being the hotspot for the spread of the virus at the moment, to strictly adhere to the advisory on the use of face masks among other preventive and protective measures.
According to him, “Citizens are reminded to take responsibility through physical distancing, appropriate use of masks or improvised face coverings, maintenance of hand and respiratory hygiene, as well as faithful adherence to the lockdown measures and regulations in place.
“The use of masks, be they disposable, cloth masks or other face coverings, is advised for all activities outside your home and especially in the hotspot states of Lagos, FCT and as we’re seeing in Kano.
“I would like to encourage the mass production, donation and distribution of washable reusable cloth masks by philanthropists to vulnerable groups and generally to members of the public to further contribute to reducing the risk of transmission.
“A strict guide for the use and maintenance of face masks is in development and will be publicized. Suffice it to say that your masks must be washed every day and if possible ironed.
“There is no lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), but we are extremely careful about our PPE because we do not know how this virus is developing, so all the PPE we have we are managing very carefully.
“We are also stockpiling because we need to be able to supply these commodities to our health workers when they ask for them, so that we don’t waste any. We are still on the hunt for more PPE.
“The Federal Government has a responsibility and capacity to manage dangerous viral infections safely in the interest of public safety and national security.”
He further added: “Our strategy now is focusing on the community. We have kicked off the community testing and social mobilization at the grassroots level. The worrying increase in the frequency and numbers of new persons with COVID-19 being recorded daily is attributable to this new strategy in combination with high community transmission. Now we have moved from looking for individuals and their contacts to the community phase.
“There’s also renewed emphasis on further increasing and improving isolation facilities because testing and finding more infected persons goes with a strategy to accommodate them. There are isolations and treatment centres all over the country to meet the security, privacy and comfort needs of all persons.
“Requirement for private hospitals to treat coronavirus is very clear. We have had some inquiries about private entities who want to build totally new hospitals for the treatment of coronavirus, yes we agree with that. Some even want to close down one hospital and convert it into treating coronavirus patients. But there are guidelines that they will be given and they must fit the exact design for infectious diseases hospitals with regards to air movements, ventilation etc.
“An accreditation team will look at the hospital and advise on how to set it up. They must have doctors and nurses who are trained for infectious diseases. They must also have cleaners, drivers etc., who have some training in infection prevention and control. Those who meet these conditions, will very gladly be allowed to take part in the management of coronavirus.
“State governments shall be preparing a minimum of 300 beds for isolation and treatment and also to explore all options including engaging hotels for quarantining persons who may have COVID-19 or those who have mild symptoms or need little clinical management.
“With regards to imported cases, everyone entering Nigeria from outside the country will be required to enter mandatory supervised 14-day quarantine at a designated facility. The same applies to contacts of such persons.”