By Gbenga Abulude
The Katsina State government, has said not less than 75 health workers within the state, have tested positive for Covid-19.
The government said most of the health workers are asymptomatic to the virus, but it has reduced staff stength at health facilities in the North west state.
It noted that the health workers infected, were made up of medical doctors, nurses and others.
Two deaths were also recorded which include a medical doctor and a laboratory attendant, whose case became serious having reported last week Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabir Mustapha along with the Commissioner of Information, Malam Abdulakarim Yahaya Sirika, made this known while addressing newsmen at the Government House on Friday.
The infected health care workers are however, currently receiving treatment at home in line with
clinical observatory Covid-19 protocol.
They also disclosed that the state government cumulatively, has spent more than N157, 750,000,00 on a total of 11, 314 samples collected with 675 follow-up cases.
“The state government has engaged Sahel Medical center, a private laboratory accredited by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), offering testing service on COVID-19 suspected cases.
“From 31st of May, 2020 to date, Sahel medical laboratory has tested over 10,000 samples of COVID-19 suspected patients, it cost the state government N15, 750.00 for one (1) test and so far, a whopping N157,750,000,00 has been expended on the 10,000 tests alone, in addition to other coat on patients care and staff allowances and others.
‘’Sharing of risk communication activities through social media platforms as well as the intensification of the house to house awareness creation, were still ongoing,” they stated.
The state government said it has had about 800 positive cases with 24 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
