PRESS BRIEFING BY HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR. OSAGIE EHANIRE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 PRESS BRIEFING ON MONDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2020
Protocol
I welcome all citizens back from Salah break and hope it served as well a period of celebration and Thanksgiving, as for some reflection, which, under the prevailing circumstances, cannot but also dwell on the greatest public health challenge of our generation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the adverse impact it has had on societal and economic life.
2. As the course of the disease becomes clearer, experts are hazarding cautious guesses. The Director General of WHO has warned, for example, that COVID-19 could be with us for a long time. This means we are to consider adjusting to what has been described as the "new normal", a way of life that is intended to reduce risk of infection, while allowing meaningful economic life to resume and citizens to restore their livelihoods.
3. All members of PTF are aligned in the key role of non-pharmaceutical interventions in controlling new infections, because the measures are easy, cheap and proven to be effective, especially the wearing of masks and avoiding of crowds. I urge all citizens not to slacken in their adherence to these measures. We in the Health sector are key actors in the health related parts of the initiative.
4. Our objective is to reduce case fatalities to less than 1% from present 2%, and we are working on innovative interventions with prospects of improving survival chances, especially for the elderly and those with co-morbidities. We will work with State governments to prepare necessary space and human resources at General hospitals or PHCs, to be trained for setting up at least one sample collection site at every LGA in due course, with efficient sample retrieval logistics to convey samples to laboratories. For patients with significant clinical symptoms, we also plan the designation of Holding rooms at General hospitals, with facilities for oxygen administration, such as oxygen concentrators or from oxygen cylinders. Some investment in this strategy, known in Lagos State as oxygen kiosks, will be required, but the benefit, in lives saved, will be significant.
5. With regard to the covid-19 scene, Monday, 3rd August 2020, recorded 43,841 confirmed cases out of a total of 286,091 samples tested so far, while 20,308 persons have been treated and discharged. 888 persons have sadly been lost as a result of the COVID-19. No meaning can be read into this as yet. In comparison, the total number of positive covid-19 cases recorded in July was 17,457, out of a total of 154, 454 samples tested, with a positivity rate of 11.3%, as against the June 2020 figures of 19,149 positive cases from a total of 111,052 samples tested with a positivity rate of 17.2%.
6. Although it is far too early to draw conclusions, it is noteworthy that testing increased by over 40,000 in one month and the number of positive cases dropped by more than 2,000. But we must not rest on our oars: it is just suggestive of the fact that our strategy is not failing, and we must continue to sustain efforts.
7. I wish to assure our Health workers that we have no anxiety about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as we are reasonably well stocked with materials and commodities, which have been supplied to all sections of the country. At the directive of His Excellency the President, we were able to respond to the request of our neighbouring country of Sao Tome, for commodities for COVID-19 response. I also assure citizens that we are continuing to increase and optimize our laboratory diagnostic capacity, most recently in Zamfara, Kebbi, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe and Bayelsa States.
8. I wish to here again, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, express our appreciation to the United Nations System in Nigeria and to the European Union, for the generous donation of yet another consignment of valuable supplies, which I had the privilege of receiving at the Airport on Friday 31st July, 2020. This additional delivery will boost our stockpile of wherewithal, to fight the pandemic and include face masks and shields goggles, airways tubes, bio-hazard bags and safety boxes, test kites etc. I wish to assure our donors that all materials will be used judiciously in the fight against the pandemic.
9. Nigeria joins the rest of the world this week to celebrate world breastfeeding week, marked annually from 1st to 7th of August to create awareness to the importance of breastfeeding. The theme of this year’s celebration is Support Breastfeeding for a healthier planet. It is a good time to emphasize this than at this time when the world is threatened by the pandemic. I wish to encourage all mothers to continue to breastfeed their babies. The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and I will be having a joint press briefing tomorrow as part of activities to mark the week.
10. Thank you for listening.
