News that the Wuhan’s virus, COVID-19 has made its way into sub-Saharan Africa, making its debut in Nigeria has awakened fears in the region’s largest nation.
An Italian citizen working in the country returned to Lagos from Milan on the 25th of February 2020. He visited Ewekoro community in Ewekoro Local Government area of Ogun State for a business transaction with a private manufacturing company. When he became ill, he was transferred from a hospital in Ogun to Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed to have the coronavirus. He is currently being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Despite this revelation, here are reasons why you should not panic!
As a nation, the federal government is taking the following steps:
– Lagos state ministry of health has begun to identify all the contacts of the infected Italian national to isolate them and hedge the spread of the virus.
– There is an 80-bed isolation facility for suspected cases after which tests can be run at the biosecurity facilities and other test centers nationwide.
– At the points of entry, screening and checks have heightened.
– Permanent secretary, ministry of health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, said the government has released N386 million to two health agencies of the N620 million budgeted by the government to curtail Covid-19 from entering into the country.
– Senate health committee has asked the Federal Ministry of Health to set up a ‘Health War Room’.
– Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has established a ‘coronavirus preparedness that meets daily to review the situation globally, assess the risk of spread and improve on Nigeria’s level of preparedness based on new findings and insights.
– The federal government has been transparent with the details of the first case.
As individuals, you should stick to the following religiously:
– Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
– Maintain at least 1 & half meters (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
– Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance, but not mix in-crowd.
– Make sure you and people around you follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or into your sleeve at the bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
– Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. Please call NCDC toll free number which is available day and night, for guidance- 0800-970000-10. Do not engage in self-medication.
– Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through official channels.
Nigeria was the first nation in the world to defeat the Ebola scourge in 2014 by showing unprecedented unity. That is most important now! Take deliberate actions to stay safe.
