TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health has revealed that suspected COVID-19 emergencies can now be diagnosed on site.

According to him, this will drastically reduce Turn around and waiting Time, and allow better utilization of Observation rooms.

Ehanire gave this revelation at the Presidential Task Force briefing on Covid-19 on Thursday in Abuja, saying, we are continuing with plans to reduce case fatality rate to less than 1%, by optimizing response activities and cooperation with States according to the challenges they have.

While adding that, a new state molecular laboratory is currently being optimized in Kebbi and Bayelsa States, while a Gene Expert machine have been set up at National Hospital Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, as was announced some weeks ago.

This means that suspected COVID-19 emergencies can now be diagnosed on site, which will drastically reduce Turn around and waiting Time, and allow better utilization of Observation rooms.

He stated that, this is a major advancement in handling distress experienced by patients arriving as emergencies in these hospitals. The UATH has also found access to supplementary medical oxygen supply, courtesy of the generosity of the Nigeria Air Force, who has a good oxygen plant in Yola.

As at today, 27th August, 2020, we have recorded 53,021 COVID-19 positive cases out of 391,502 samples tested while 40,281 persons have been treated and discharged. Sadly, we have lost 1,010 persons to the virus with a case fatality rate of 1.9%

Ehanire added, they be deploying material and human resource assets from the polio eradication to surveillance and fighting other disease outbreaks, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

While adding that, they shall sustain our interest in developments around covid-19 around the world and seek opportunities to exchange ideas with countries and organizations investing in new knowledge.

He further added that, training and retraining on infection prevention and Control is ongoing in all our facilities as well as ensuring availability of PPEs as an investment to continue the reduction in health worker infections. He also called on health workers to ensure judicious and prudent use of these PPEs materials, while observing full IPC measures.

Finally, I wish to remind all of us that COVID-19 is still with us and will be for the foreseeable future, till there is a vaccine available for it. We are exploring all options and opportunities to ensure that when vaccines are available Nigerians will be among beneficiaries. This includes assisting NAFDAC to reach the International Maturity Level to assure products and processes, and encouraging our researchers to work towards the development of vaccine candidates.

With the imperative to reopen our economy, relax local and international air travel to support restoration of livelihoods, the experience in other countries is that covid infection rates have gone up, in some cases, dramatically. We must strive therefore, not to lose our attention to preserving lives or lose the gains we have made over the months. The onus lies not only with the Ministry of Health, but is a shared responsibility with the populace.

Our safest, easiest and cheapest option of achieving a balance remains adherence to non-pharmaceutical measures, as we have preached so many times. With these measures, we can balance or uphold our indices.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria Country Representative, Dr walter Kazadi Mulombo WHO has congratulated Nigeria and the entire African Continent on the declaration of wild polio virus free certification that was announced on 25 August 2020.

Saying, the massive public health achievement, was made possible due to the leadership and commitment of governments, global polio partners, traditional and religious institutions, frontline health workers and vaccinators.

He made this known on Thursday in Abuja, on occasion of a World Press Conference on Thursday, 27th of August 2020 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja following the August 25th official declaration of Nigeria and the African Region as Polio Free, while adding that, it is a moment to celebrate the many individuals that worked tirelessly to make this milestone possible.

Mulombo further stated that, the certification demonstrates what Nigeria and other African countries can accomplish when goals are backed by strong political commitment.

According to him; ” Nigeria’s battle with wild polio has been long and complex. I therefore commend the Government of Nigeria for the steadfast commitment in leading a massive national effort over the past couple of decades. The leadership of the Presidential Task Force facilitated oversight of the programme at the highest level, drawing on the necessary resources and holding states accountable for their responsibilities.

” Nigeria is lauded for several innovations that were devised to address the prevailing challenges under the strong coordination of the National Polio Emergency Operations Center. The lessons and expertise from the Nigeria experience have been useful to address other disease outbreaks and are currently being deployed to strengthen routine immunization and primary health care”, he stated.

Mulombo, however, thanked donors and partners for their full support to the polio eradication effort. The unwavering support was critical for supporting the government to implement the recommended strategies. We appreciate your commitment and count on you to continue supporting the Nigeria towards global certification and PHC systems strengthening.

He , therefore, stressed that; “As we mark this milestone, we must emphasize the need to be vigilant to prevent resurgence of wild polio virus given the disease has not been eradicated globally. 102 wild polio virus cases have so far been reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year.

Additionally, we are faced with the continued threat of vaccine derived polio viruses – 16 countries in the region are experiencing circulating vaccine derived polio virus outbreaks. Nigeria and the region can defeat cVDPVs and protect against WPV importation if all commit to increasing vaccination coverage and strengthening disease surveillance.

He added that, WHO looks forward to supporting you to build on the great success achieved to continuing the effort to close immunity gaps through a strong routine immunization and primary health care system.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire added that, this achievement was made possible by the strong commitment of the President of the Federal Republic and of Federal, State and Local Governments, with the support of Development Partners, Sponsors and Donors, Traditional, Religious and Community leaders, and not the least, thousands of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) staff and gallant frontline health workers, who moved from house to house, community to community, vaccinating children, sometimes under difficult and daunting circumstances.

According to him, declaring Nigeria as a polio virus free state is particularly significant for us, coming at a time when we are on the threshold of fostering an evolution in the health sector, built on the revelations and opportunities provided by the COVID-19 outbreak and inspired by the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that, the Federal Government, through NPCHDA, has mapped out various polio assets across the country and started deploying them for the purpose of other disease interventions. I urge State Governors to support this effort and begin to implement the transition of the experienced polio human resources for Health, to other areas of the health sector, especially at Primary care level. This new era can be the rallying point for progress and development of Health on the African continent and our country. This is my message for you today.

16. Thank you for your attention and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Calls For Continuous Vaccination

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has congratulated Nigeria on being declared free of the wild poliovirus.

While stressing that achieving this milestone is not the end of the job – all children under five years must continue to be vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.
 

Saying, this is critical to significantly reduce avoidable mortality in Nigerian children under 5 years old, keep polio permanently out of Nigeria, and ensure better health and well being for future generations.

 
The UN agencies in a joint statement made available to newsmen in Abuja also congratulated fellow Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners in Nigeria who helped reach this achievement: Rotary International; the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC); Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI); as well as Nigerian traditional and religious leaders and volunteer community mobilisers – the latter, the foot soldiers who fought to free the children of Nigeria from the wild poliovirus.

 
WHO Nigeria Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulumbo, said, “WHO rejoices with the people and government of Nigeria and acknowledges that wild polio-free certification is undoubtedly the greatest public health triumph in the annals of Nigeria and indeed Africa that will bequeath to posterity lessons learnt and best practices for addressing future public health interventions.”

 
Both UN agencies expressed strong appreciation for the role played by all stakeholders, especially the commitment and support of the Nigerian government at all levels, development partners, donors, traditional and community leaders, health workers and caregivers.
 

“This milestone is a clarion call to urgently rededicate resources to stopping the transmission of all types of poliovirus, strengthening routine immunization to sustain the gains achieved – especially in high risk areas and traditional polio sanctuaries – and maintaining high quality surveillance,’’ said Dr. Mulumbo.

 
Meanwhile, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Peter Hawkins, added that, “It is a momentous achievement that calls for celebration” “This historic achievement not only signifies the end of the wild poliovirus across the entire African continent, but is also a significant springboard towards attaining global polio eradication.”

 
“UNICEF joins Nigeria in celebrating this milestone – and congratulating Nigeria’s children, especially – but we must remember that the job is not over,” said Hawkins.
 

“All caregivers must continue to vaccinate their children against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases, including polio. Religious and community leaders, as champions of wild poliovirus eradication, should continue to mobilize caregivers to vaccinate their children for all preventable diseases. Children need their help now more than ever.”

 
“Not only is polio vaccination still crucial, all routine vaccinations are critical to children’s survival.
We must all work together to strengthen routine immunisation services and ensure that all children under five receive all vaccines, including the polio vaccine.”
 
“This is not the time for Nigeria to take its foot off the accelerator. This is the time for Nigeria to strengthen its primary health care system, and give routine immunisation a vital boost.”

 
UNICEF and WHO pledge to continue to support Nigeria to strengthen its Primary Healthcare system under the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUR) policy initiated by the Federal Government, including the goal to have at least one functional primary healthcare centre (PHC) in every ward in Nigeria.
 

Nigeria attained wild polio-free status after meeting all the criteria for certification, which include three years of non-detection of any wild poliovirus case in the country.

 
It would be recalled that before the certification, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan were the only wild polio endemic countries globally.
 
 

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said there is good reason to prepare for Covid-19 invasion of rural areas with testing, first aid, ambulance service and commensurate Isolation and treatment centers.

This is as we expand and include small towns and rural areas in our testing scope, a more accurate picture of our Covid-19 status will emerge.

Ehanire made this known in Monday at the Presidential Task Force briefing in Covid-19, saying, the apparently fewer covid positive cases of the past few days give us no reason to rejoice or to lower our guard.

According to him; “However, we note with concern, the development in many overseas countries, of sharp upsurge in covid-19 cases, after they lifted or relaxed restrictions in air travel, commerce and especially in social activities. We know that some countries had to quickly restore lockdown or limit movement of citizens and even to postpone elections, in order to deal with the COVID-19 spike. In one country thousands of members of congregation of a religious group had to be put in quarantine, having tested positive.

“These are significant lessons for us, as we prepare to reopen our economy and as we consider options for resuming flights and travel operations, or opening schools and land borders. Unless we utilize lessons learned to define and set measured precautionary steps to mitigate the risks, the danger of falling into the same negative balance in our own COVID-19 strategy and losing the gains made so far, is real. The impact of lockdown on livelihoods and socio-economic activities is well known and serious and what we wish to avoid. The other side of this coin is the question of what we need to do to take up the challenge of keeping control of covid-19, as we reopen. This is a shared responsibility of government and people and an assignment for the entire country. It has been repeatedly stressed that the easiest, cheapest, well proven options are still the simple nonpharmaceutical interventions, like wearing masks, avoiding crowds and frequently washing hands. It is the least citizens can contribute, by adhering to these, and urging their neighbors to adhere, so that we together stand a better chance of limiting the negative consequences on the economy of easing and opening the borders.”, he explained.

He added that, “As of 17th August, 2020, Nigeria has recorded 49,068 covid-19 cases from 352,625 samples tested so far, with 36,497 persons successfully treated and discharged. We have sadly had 975 fatalities and a case fatality rate still about 2%. We continue to strive to lower the case fatality rate to less than 1%, because we believe more lives can be saved from COVID29, with the knowledge and system strengthening we have achieved over the past 6 months, even though I hasten to add that we do not yet know enough about covid19. But what we are sure of so far, is that strong response to COVID-19 is a collaborative effort between citizenry and government for the benefit of all Nigerians. While government provides direction, guidance and resources, citizens are to take ownership of the response”.

He said that, the continuity of health routine services, capacity building of health workers and their protection are paramount, to the Federal Ministry of Health and it is therefore a good opportunity to now urge our health workers to continue to focus on their assignments, from traveler screening, surveillance, sample collection, laboratory analysis to hospital and other forms of care. It is critical to maintain strict Infection Prevention and Control measures at all times, help to educate citizenry, support uptake of testing and reporting early for treatment when the test is positive.

The Minister added that, the National Health System is responding well enough so far to the COVID-19 challenge. Collaboration with States and Local Governments remains a cornerstone of a successful strategy. The Federal government is doing the needful to support funding to States, from disbursements of BHCPF to funding from the REDISSE program and PTF and other sources under preparation.

Ehanire stated that, “I paid an inspection visit to the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of the National Centre for Disease Control for an assessment of our covid-19 response efforts in the pillars under its purview. I noted strategies to improve the call connect center, surveillance, case finding, sample collection and testing, and in particular, the issue of Turnaround Time for testing, were discussed. NCDC is also making efforts to ensure that all laboratories in our network have a turnaround time under 24 hours. Nigeria continues to monitor new diagnostic technology, including saliva-based covid19 test, that is under development.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is working with its Agencies and partnering with State governments to serve rural areas by maintaining routine service and taking COVID-19 response to LGAs with sample collection sites, Holding Rooms and Oxygen treatment centers. State Epidemiologists are requested to speed up processing of test results and facilitate treatment and Isolation of positives, to address gaps in the value chain.

“I also visited the Thisday Dome Treatment Centre where over 120 patients have received treatment. The centre is functioning smoothly and I have directed it be upgraded to a comprehensive level 3 centre with functional Intensive Care Unit and dialysis facilities”, he added.