PRESS BRIEFING BY HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR. OSAGIE EHANIRE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 PRESS BRIEFING ON THURSDAY 2ND JULY, 2020
PROTOCOL
As we begin the four weeks of extension of the second phase of easing the lockdown as approved by His Excellency the President, it is important that we review the strategy and assess the effectiveness of measures so far in place. The number of covid-19 positive cases is increasing dramatically in Nigeria, but also globally, as news reports show. Our strategy uses the statistics to calibrate response, but also address the concerns of citizens.
2. Our country has tested a total of 138,462 samples as of today, of which 26,484 are confirmed positive, with 790 cases diagnosed in the past one day. The ratio of male to female among the infected has remained quite stable at 70% to 30%. While majority of the infected cases are below 50 years, the majority of the fatalities are over 50 years old. We have successfully treated and discharged 10,152 persons and sadly suffered 603 fatalities, most of them with underlying illnesses and belonging to those we classify as vulnerable. This rising trend requires that each state of the Federation continues to prepare more bed spaces and increase sample collection sites, as well as improve logistics to deliver to designated laboratories promptly. It is also important to protect the vulnerable by putting in place measures which take care of their social needs and reduce their exposure to risks of infection.
3. The covid-19 statistics are expected to rise further with improved testing, but also as a sign that COVID-19 is actually expanding faster than our systems are handing it. The Federal Ministry of Health's plan will be to focus more on minimizing fatalities by prioritizing preemptive admission to hospital for medical observation, all persons who test positive for COVID-19 and meet our definition of vulnerability, even if they do not yet have classical symptoms. These include the elderly, diabetics, asthmatics and persons in treatment for chronic infections and conditions. If on medical observation, complications will be noticed and addressed early and morbidity avoided. This population group will also be targeted for risk communication and engagement to avoid non essential travel and exposure to risk factors outside the home.
4. All countries, including Nigeria, rely heavily on the cooperation and collaboration with citizens, especially in implementing simple non pharmaceutical measures, like wearing face masks when outside the house, avoiding crowds and gatherings of more than 20 people and simple hygiene measures, which have been proven to reduce risks of transmission. The success or lack thereof, of response is therefore a factor, not just of national, but also of subnational and citizen efforts. Hence the need to again call on all States, LGAs and communities, to know they have a critical role to play and that their engagement matters.
5. With the lifting of the ban on interstate travel, the assumption should not be that danger is over and it is safe to move about. The risks of being infected are higher during traveI, so I strongly advise we do not embark on non-essential travel. This is particularly so for the elderly and those designated as high risk.
6. Many countries made adherence to rules not only mandatory; some even imposed penalties for non-compliance. The exploding figures we see now, would be considerably less, if most citizens complied. The benefits of compliance are such that we should each and all, be encouraging each other and ensuring that we obey and remind others to obey, without requiring policing. It is a citizen responsibility and not just government's. We can save lives by enduring the little inconvenience of wearing a mask and avoiding travel that need not be.
7. The Ministry of Health will also address complaints by both citizens and hospital managers, of long delays in receiving COVID-19 test results, at treatment centers in Abuja especially, which disrupt smooth running and delay the commencement of treatment. I have directed the deployment and activation of GeneXpert machines to treatment centers at National Hospital Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, so that they can now conduct testing on site. The GeneXpert machine allows results within one hour.
8. Over the last few days, I have also received reports of very sick persons being rejected at our hospitals. Many have died outside or on the way, having been denied attention in more than one hospital. It is not acceptable that persons lose their lives to health conditions which could possibly have been been cured, or may not even have been covid related.
9. It is to address this subject that, the Hon. Minister of FCT and I had a meeting today with the Medical Directors of both Federal and FCT government hospitals in the FCT catchment area, where it was emphasized that no patient be denied treatment or rejected, and that all health workers will be trained and retrained on Infection Prevention and control and issued PPEs and materials required for discharge of their duties. In addition to this, all government hospitals in FCT will become covid sample collection sites, so that walk-in cases can have samples taken to be forwarded to NCDC for testing. This will boost testing and assure users and caregivers of reduced bottlenecks and improved efficiency in our response. We intend to scale up this sentinel sample collection sites to all States of the Federation.
10. I chaired the quarterly meeting of the Federal Ministry of Health with the Health Partners Coordinating Committee on Friday 26th June 2020, which was to update our international Development Partners Group on Federal Government plans and strategies, and to mobilize technical and material support for the Health Sector activities, especially the COVID-19 Response Action Plan.
11. The Plan was launched: a) to work out a visionary national strategy to address the COVID-19 challenge over the next 3 years, b) to share the plan and ensure harmonization of response across all tiers of government in the health sector, c) to mobilize and assure prudent distribution of resources to all States, d) to render technical support to States in perceived areas of need and also assure that all State Health services retain routine services in spite of COVID-19 threat. In this regard, Federal Ministry of Health officials held a high level virtual meeting with State epidemiologists and Incident Managers to discuss and update on strategies and response. This engagement will be sustained, as well as continuing training of Health workers on infection prevention and control.
12. Preliminary results of the analysis of the so-called Madagascar herbs by NIPRID, show that it is the same as the plant Artemisia anua, which is grown in the NIPRID research farm in Abuja. Further research on its efficacy will be conducted when a grant is approved.
13. Thank you for your attention.
The Honourable Minister then responded to questions raised by journalists during the press briefing
