- To Embark on Local Production of Medical Consumables
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Friday disclosed that an 18-man team of Chinese medical experts would be arriving Nigeria soon to provide some supports aimed at halting the spread of the Coronavirus infection in the country.
According to Ehanire, the team comprised of doctors, nurses and medical experts are expected to arrive in Nigeria in few days from now.
Speaking during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, the Minister also said Nigeria was also exploring the possibility of producing some medical equipment after key stakeholders met in Abuja on Thursday.
Read also: Covid-19: 18-man Team of Chinese Medical Experts to Arrive Nigeria Soon, Says FG
Nigeria’s COVID-19 tally hit 210 on Friday as two new deaths were also recorded. This is as the global figure has surpassed the one million mark.
Ehanire said, “The global number has crossed one million mark, barely three months after the first cases were first reported in Wuhan, China. It is an indication that it is a public health challenge that we must not take lightly.”
He continued, “We are already seeing what may be the indication of community transmission, in that 30 per cent of the cases have incomplete epidemiological information. 51 per cent are imported cases and 19 per cent are through contacts of known cases.
“Directors of the Federal Ministry of Health had discussions with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to explore the potential for local production of medical consumables such as face masks, gloves, sanitisers and even ventilators.
“This is in view of looming global shortages of medical supplies for the response due to high demands from all countries. Clinical trials and other processes are ongoing to validate various therapeutic for COVID-19 treatment.”
Ehanire said he had been notified of medical supplies from China courtesy of a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria.
“A special cargo aircraft shall leave Nigeria in a few days to collect the items which include Personal Protective Equipment and ventilators.
“Of great interest is that an 18-man team of medical experts from China, including doctors, nurses and medical experts shall come along with the flight to assist us,” he said.
The coming of the Chinese medical experts was announced just as the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said efforts to contain COVID-19 in Nigeria were being limited by finance, manpower and other indices despite the support from government and individuals.
Ihekweazu said: “We are not just limited by funds and infrastructure, but the biggest limitation is human resources; the people that are already trained in bio-nuclear diagnostic testing. This is not something you can take up people and ask them to volunteer and go into the laboratory and start testing.”
