03/08/2020
PRESS BRIEFING BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR. OSAGIE EHANIRE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 PRESS BRIEFING ON MONDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2020
Protocol
I welcome all citizens back from Sallah break and hope it served as well a period of celebration and Thanksgiving, as for some reflection, which, under the prevailing circumstances, cannot but also dwell on the greatest public health challenge of our generation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the adverse impact it has had on societal and economic life. As the course of the disease becomes clearer, experts are hazarding cautious guesses. The Director General of WHO has warned, for example, that COVID-19 could be with us for a long time. This means we are to consider adjusting to what has been described as the "new normal", a way of life that is intended to reduce risk of infection, while allowing meaningful economic life to resume and citizens to restore their livelihoods. There will be increase in travels, human interactions, gatherings. In all of this, we must not forget our safety and the measures to protect ourselves and out families.
2. All members of PTF are aligned in the key role of non-pharmaceutical interventions in controlling new infections, because the measures are easy, cheap and proven to be effective, especially the wearing of masks and avoiding of crowds. I urge all citizens not to slacken in their adherence to these measures. We in the Health sector are key actors in the health related parts of the initiative.
3. Our objective is to reduce case fatalities to less than 1% from present 2%, and we are working on innovative interventions with prospects of improving survival chances, especially for the elderly and those with co-morbidities. We will work with State governments to prepare necessary space and human resources at General hospitals or PHCs, to be trained for setting up at least one sample collection site at every LGA in due course, with efficient sample retrieval logistics to convey samples to laboratories. For patients with significant clinical symptoms, we also plan the designation of Holding rooms at General hospitals, with facilities for oxygen administration, such as oxygen concentrators or from oxygen cylinders. Some investment in this strategy, known in Lagos State as oxygen kiosks, will be required, but the benefit, in lives saved, will be significant. All this may sound ambitious, but we must face the stark reality that covid-19 will also spread to small towns and rural areas, and so begin to prepare structures to respond to the challenge.
4. With regard to the present covid-19 scene, Monday, 3rd August 2020, recorded 43,841 confirmed cases out of a total of 286,091 samples tested so far, while 20,308 persons have been treated and discharged. 888 persons have sadly been lost as a result of the COVID-19. No meaning can be read into this as yet. In comparison, the total number of positive covid-19 cases recorded in July was 17,457, out of a total of 154, 454 samples tested, with a positivity rate of 11.3%, as against the June 2020 figures of 19,149 positive cases from a total of 111,052 samples tested with a positivity rate of 17.2%. Although it is far too early to draw conclusions, it is noteworthy that testing increased by over 40,000 in one month and the number of positive cases dropped by more than 2,000. But we must rest on our oars: it is just suggestive of the fact that our strategy is not failing, and we must continue to sustain efforts.
5.I wish to assure our Health workers that we have no anxiety about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as we are reasonably well stocked with materials and commodities, which have been supplied to all sections of the country. At the directive of His Excellency the President, we were able to respond to the request of our neighboring country of Sao Tome, for commodities for COVID-19 response and send a consignment to a sister country.
6. I also assure citizens that we are continuing to increase and optimize our laboratory diagnostic capacity, most recently in Zamfara, Kebbi, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe and Bayelsa States.
7. On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I again express our appreciation to the United Nations System in Nigeria and to the European Union, for the generous donation of yet another consignment of valuable supplies, which I had the privilege of recieving at the Airport on Friday 31st July, 2020. This additional delivery will boost our stockpile of the wherewithal to fight the pandemic and it includes face masks and shields goggles, airways, tubes, bio-hazard bags, safety boxes, test kites, etc. I assure our donors that all materials will be used judiciously in the fight against the pandemic.
8. Nigeria joins the rest of the world this week to celebrate world breastfeeding week, marked annually from 1st to 7th of August to create awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. The theme of this year’s celebration is Breastfeeding for a healthier planet. It is a good opportunity to emphasize this at this time when the world is threatened by the pandemic, to nourish infants properly. I wish to encourage all mothers to continue the practice. The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and I will hold a joint press briefing tomorrow as part of activities.
9.Thank you for listening.
