Going forward, Dr. Ehanire said that the Federal Ministry of Health FMoH is currently considering proposals for a major investment from public and private sectors to upgrade the capacity of the NBTS to enable it achieve its potential to produce blood components and plasma-derived medicinal products at a commercial scale that meets international best standards to enter the world market.
He seized the opportunity to announce that the Legislative process of the bill for the establishment of the National Blood Service Commission is at an advanced stage and awaiting public hearing at the National Assembly. While calling on people of goodwill in Nigeria and the world over who are healthy to become life savers by volunteering to donate blood to make safe blood available to everyone in need of it, which is an act of solidarity and service to mankind.
The highlight of the event for the marking of the 14th June, edition of the World Blood Donor Day was when the Honourable Minister entertained questions from the his audience on Social Media as the few who were physically present. For the questioner who asked to know if blood donated freely should be paid for, the Honourable Minister said that there are private enterprises involved in screening blood and taking donations.
For the private enterprises, Dr. Ehanire said, the way they do their charges is at the private level. For another person seeking to know how this WBDD celebration is different from previous ones and what one may consider as some of the major achievements as the world has been celebrating WBDD yearly, Dr. You are helping that person to save his life and that something for which your own joy and reward will be greater than you think. Ehanire revealed that asymptomatic patients are most infectious and can transmit the virus even if they do not look or feel ill, and sometimes, the Minister said such patients can be trivialized even by healthcare workers.
This situation, he said, may explain the initial relatively high rate of infections among the health workers. Speaking further, the Minister said that planning for targeted community sensitization activities have commenced in 20 high burden Local Government Areas, with workshop in infection prevention and control of COVID for healthcare workers of public and private hospitals in the FCT.
While calling on all to adhere to health advisories and guidelines, as well as observe non-pharmaceutical measures issued by FMoH, he reiterated that the cheapest and easiest way to protecting oneself is to wear a mask, especially now that confirmed COVID cases in Nigeria continue to rise, thus raising the risk.
By Blessing Efem. On the deaths in Kano in April, Dr. Ehanire disclosed that the Ministerial Task team confirmed from graveyards records that a total of deaths were recorded in 8 municipal LGAs in the State, at a rate of 43 deaths per day with a peak in the second week of April. Further reports by the Honourable Minister at the briefing revealed that a 2 day Webinar was held on the effect of COVID on health and care management of the elderly, conducted in collaboration with the West African Health Organization WAHO : A critical look was made at various aspects of the impact of the disease on the elderly who are at a higher risk of infection.
The outcome, the Minister said, provides grounds for policy direction for care of the elderly during and beyond COVID pandemic.
While updating further, Dr. Ehanire said that over 76, have been tested for corona virus with a record of 12, confirmed cases in 35 States and FCT. This includes new discharge protocols, treatment for asymptomatic or symptomatic cases with various clinical conditions.
From The live social media engagement was novel and the Honourable Minister began by updating with a speech which reminded the audience that the the first confirmed case of COVID was recorded in Nigeria on 27th February. Of these, 3, persons have been successfully treated and discharged, and we have sadly recorded deaths. Nigeria has significantly scaled-up testing capacity, surveillance, community mobilisation, coordination, contact tracing, community awareness and other factors.
Employing bullet points to itemize the achievements of Federal Ministry of Health during the last days of responding to the pandemic, the Honourable Minister of Health revealed that the Ministry achieved the followings and more for the Health Sector:. Ehanire also mentioned that the parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Health FMoH have brought all their expertise to bear in responding to the pandemic.
The Honourable Minister added that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC , under whose mandate many of the outbreak response measures fall, has recorded laudable milestones such as:. The Honourable Minister also expressed the observation that since this Coronavirus Disease is novel to the world, research has been an integral part of the COVID pandemic response in Nigeria, as in other countries.
Research institutions under the Federal Ministry of Health have been hard at work. Even when the social media engagement was meant to be very brief, Dr. The institute, the Minister said, has also provided laboratory back up for Lagos State and established a drive- and walk-through testing centre, as well as a do-it- yourself swab sampling for COVID test in Lagos.
It was as if Dr. Osagie Ehanire was using the social media engagement with Twitter and Face Book users to rehearse response update of Nigeria to COVID when he would also not spare reporting on the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency NPHCDA which he disclosed has set up an innovative model and protocol for Community based case management of covid positive cases with little or no symptoms, using boarding house premises of community schools. Please adhere to advisories and continue to take precautions as we forge ahead together in the fight against COVID Questions for which answers and clarifications were sought as well as suggestions by the critical mass of stakeholders and public of Federal Ministry of Health and Nigerians through Twitter and Face Book dwelt largely on the address of update by the Honourable Minister which were diligently and patiently answered and attended to.
He also advised the general public to continue to adhere to the guidelines on prevention and control of COVID Further, Dr. Ehanire disclosed that the Meeting compared notes, discussed matters of regional cooperation and collaboration around the COVID strategy and response, border-related challenges on movement of people and goods when borders are reopened. Boris Johnson, the purpose of which, was to mark 20 years since GAVI was founded, and also to raise funds to support its activities.
Speaking further, Dr. Ehanire updated that the nation currently has a total of 11, confirmed COVID cases in 35 States and FCT, of which 3, have been treated successfully and discharged, while deaths have been recorded. To rest on our oars for that reason, would be a serious mistake. COVID is real and we have explained that the increase in cases is due to improving testing capacity and of activities of other response pillars, such as surveillance, community mobilization, coordination, contact tracing improved awareness, the demographics and other factors.
The Honourable Minister also updated the nation that the teams deployed to Lagos and Ogun States have returned: They visited the State EOCs, identified State specific challenges and exchanged ideas with health workers. The preliminary reports, he said show that the goals of the intervention were met.
This was made known by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. He attributed the observed increase to the expanding laboratory and testing capacity all over Nigeria and growing community transmission rate while pointing out that the nation is yet to attain testing targets.
He advised all States to strengthen their response activities and capacity to deal with COVID challenges in their various States by additional training, supplies and equipment. I have therefore approved continuation of the trial, as recommended, under strong precautionary conditions to be built into it. Speaking further, the Minister said that the leadership of the Ministry has had a briefing with the Ministerial Advisory Panel of Experts led by foremost Virologists, Professor Tomori and consequently received series of very useful advisories.
As Nigeria moves into the next phase of easing of lock down, Dr. Ehanire reiterated the COVID health advisories and enjoined all Nigerians to assume responsibility by actively playing their roles to ensure that the COVID does not spike or bounce up as has been observed in many countries where lockdown was relaxed.
Eunice Akro. Subscribe to this RSS feed. Written by femi June 17, Read more Written by femi June 16, Written by femi June 15, Written by femi June 12, In effect he subverted the power and authority of the Society. The PSN rejected attempts to withdraw the matter at the Federal High Court, Lagos, because the hearing had gone very far and we wished to have a judicial pronouncement on his case. The matter was later struck out by the court with costs to AT.
Maintaining that there were too many controversial issues surrounding A. The Society therefore, threatens to call on all hospital and administrative Pharmacists in government hospitals, Community and Industrial Pharmacists in the Private Sector to proceed on a total strike and withdrawal of their services if Mora remains PCN chairman. Health sector urged to partner local, international specialists in management of BPI.
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