Buhari Expresses Excitement at THISDAY’s Donation of COVID-19 Treatment Centre via thisdaylive
•Emefiele challenges Nigerian scientists on vaccine•Obaigbena: It’s our responsibility to deal with current crisis•146 new cases, six fresh deaths raise tally to 4,787 infected, 959 discharged, 158 deadIyobosa Uwugiaren, Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, and Idowu Sowunmi, Martins Ifijeh in Lagos
However, 146 new confirmed cases of the virus yesterday brought total infections to 4,787. Although 959 persons have been discharged, 158 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking before the centre was handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said the disease had totally overwhelmed even the best of health systems in the world, describing it as a powerful notice to all developing nations to wake up.
The SGF reiterated the appeal of PTF to all Nigerians to continuously comply with the guidelines especially in observing physical distancing, regular washing of hands, wearing of face masks/coverings, obey the curfew, avoid large gatherings and stay at home. ‘’In Nigeria, our economy is exposed to triple shocks: a supply shock, a demand shock and a revenue shock. Permit me to state that we are currently faced with public health and economic crisis of unprecedented proportions, driven primarily by the 55 per cent drop in crude oil prices between January and May 2020.
He explained that the measures are to cushion the effects of the slowdown in economic activities on businesses, while putting them in better stead to help resuscitate economic activity in the country. He warned that if Nigeria is to wait for foreign countries to develop its own vaccines, it would be the last in the queue to receive curative remedies for its teeming population.
‘’This handing over ceremony of the THISDAY Dome Treatment and Isolation Centre to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Capital Territory Administration is a landmark achievement in collaboration between public and private sectors to fight a common enemy and rescue our country and people from the grip of the raving coronavirus disease.
He thanked Mustapha, members of his task force and all the partners for bringing to fruition the THISDAY Dome centre.FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, described the outbreak of COVID-19 as a worrisome development but an experience that would strengthen Nigeria. He said he gained inspiration in pursuing the mission in March, after he was quarantined on his return from a business trip to Germany.He noted that they were rejected by many people they contacted on the project, who perceived COVID-19 as a thing that could destroy their businesses.
Giving details of the facilities, he stated that the centre has four branches: a facility where citizens can test, treat and fix, and a 54gene testing laboratory with state-of-art molecular laboratory equipment which is ready to go. ‘’So in this one facility, you can solve all the problems of COVID-19; and we thought that we should work with the federal government by making it available at no charge.’’
PSN President, Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, in a statement yesterday expressed disbelief that the Buhari administration could jettison various attempts by scientists and researchers in Nigeria only to settle for Madagascar drugs. “Nigeria has some of the best scientists in the world who have done so much work on natural and herbal medicines. Nigeria has developed a pharmacopoeia of natural and herbal products and has one of the richest flora and fauna – potent sources of phytomedicines.
He said the citizens also owed it as an obligation to collaborate with the government and shun actions that would endanger lives. He reiterated the position of the federal government that states should stop the repatriation of the Almajiri because it violates the ban on interstate movements.Mustapha also warned the public against the health hazards posed by sharing face masks or outright picking of masks for recycling from dump sites.
He explained that the ministry has activated a total of 25 laboratories for COVID-19 tests nationwide. “They are to develop protocols on how to carry out the medical investigation in the areas where the report has been made. As I speak to you, the team is in Azare, Bauchi State looking into the causes of unexplained deaths there,” he said.
WHO yesterday said it had met with 70 traditional medicine experts from Africa in a bid to find a cure for the pandemic.
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