TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
In an effort to contain the further spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Primary Healthcare, Board on Sunday supported 17 graded chiefs with hands and respiratory hygiene materials and non contact digital infra-red thermometer.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who presented the items to the Agaba of Jiwa kingdom, HRM. Alhaji Idris Musa, said that the medical support was to guide against the spread of the coronavirus in view of the large number of people that visit the palace of traditional rulers to seek counselling.
The Minister who was represented by the Ag. Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, also noted that the role of traditional rulers in Federal Capital Territory in terms of sensitization and mobilization cannot be overemphasied, noting that the OVID-19 response from the primary healthcare sector fits into the community response too.
She also hinted that the community spread of the virus was no more in doubt, therefore the traditional institutions should be the custodial of sensitization and mobilization of activities at the community level.
Her words: “The role of traditional rulers in FCT cannot be overemphasied. There are three approaches to COVID-19 response in FCT from the health sector itself. Primary health sector, the pubic health sector and the secondary health sector which will also pass through the tertiary and specialist hospitals.
“The response from the primary healthcare sector fits into the community response too. They are all represented here. The response may appear belated but it has to take a lot of planning and focused strategic activities to ensure that we work together as a team and reactivate that partnership that can make things to happen.
She continued: “Prevention and control are very critical particularly hands and respiratory hygiene and using non contact infra-red digital thermometer that could help us to detect some of the major symptoms of the disease known as COVID-19.
“The community spread of the virus is no more in doubt, it is very obvious that is ongoing. The traditional institutions are the custodial of sensitization and mobilization of activities in the community level. And without you being protected, going by the number of meetings you are going to hold, for advice and counselling, there is need to protect yourself as a frontline workers.
“In response to this critial observation, the administration has approved PPE to the 17 graded chiefs that will protect and aid surveillance. We are here with infra-red digital thermometer, hand sanitizers, face masks and buckets. This will go a long way to strengthen our partnership”.
While receiving the items on behalf of the graded traditional rulers in the FCT, the Agaba of Jiwa, HRM. Alhaji Idris Musa, described the support as the right step in the right direction, stressing that with the support, traditional rulers would have a sense of belonging.
The royal father, however, charged the FCT Primary Health Care Board to work as a team, even as he tasked them to tap from the knowledge of the traditional rulers who are the custodial of the people.
“This is what we have been seeing in other states. First, let me commend the FCT Minister of State for presenting these items so that it will go round to all the graded chiefs. I am happy as a representative of northern traditional rulers of primary healthcare representing the FCT. It is what we have being waiting for.
“It is a first approach. With these, the traditional rulers will have a sense of belonging. At the area council level, most of our traditional rulers don’t know what is happening. It is the responsibility of the primary healthcare board in various state to officially communicate each chiefdom.
“We are lucky that FCT is the headquarter of the country and all our development partners are here to help us and they are also here to watch us including their security.In the state, you can do whatever you want to because your report only end within the state, but our own in FCT goes internationally. So, FCT, primary healthcare should always be the pacesetter in the development of our primary healthcare services,” he charges.
