State, private hospitals in Lagos get coronavirus accreditation

• Panel deploys pathologists over Bauchi, Jigawa strange deaths

• Six days after arrival, Dubai returnee dies of COVID-19 in Lagos

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Leke Baiyewu and Olaleye Aluko



The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has raised the alarm over an unhealthy practice of some Nigerians who pick face masks from rubbish dumps and sell them.

The Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who raised the alarm at the PTF press briefing in Abuja, warned that such a practice would worsen the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He also said northern state governments, which had been evacuating the Quranic school pupils, popularly known as Almajirai, to their states of origin should suspend it.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanaire, also at the press briefing, said pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kano had been trained, adding that they were investigating deaths in the states.

The task force, shortly after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in his national broadcast on April 27 ordered gradual reopening of the economy, gave guidelines that would assist in flattening the COVID-19 curve in the country.

Among the guidelines are the compulsory use of face masks and maintaining social distance in the public places. The government also banned a gathering of over 20 people and interstate movements.


Nigerians picking disposed face masks, PTF raises the alarm

Reviewing Nigerians’ adherence to the guidelines, Mustapha noted that people were still sharing face masks.

He said, “The unhealthy practice of picking disposed masks for whatever purpose is harmful to both the individual picking them and whoever procures them later.

“The PTF has become aware of the ongoing practice of sharing masks and picking of masks for recycling from dump sites. This places a lot of responsibility on all of us to be self-educated and to educate others.

“The following points are emphasised: ​Except for fabric masks, every disposable used mask is a​ hazardous medical waste and should be disposed of properly, preferably by burning.

“It is very risky to share masks as the virus is capable of remaining on surfaces for several hours and you could get infected.”


Suspend interstate movements of Almajirai, FG tells govs

The PTF also advised governors to suspend interstate movements of Almajirai so as not to frustrate efforts to combat the pandemic.

Northern Governors’ Forum, in a statement issued after its meeting on April 21 unanimously decided to ban the Almajirai system of education. They decided that the children should be sent back to their parents or states of origin.

States, which have been repatriating the Almajirai back to their states of origin include Kano and Nasarawa.

But some of the children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. For example, On May 2, the Kaduna State Government said 21 out of 61 Almajirai deported to the state from Kano tested positive for the virus.

Besides, some of the children are being hidden in vehicles carrying food and brought to the South, a development southern states have frowned upon.

Expressing concern about the development, the SGF said, “This is not the time for movement of Almajirai because of interstate lockdown. If you say interstate movements are banned, I don’t think that movements of Almajirai are essential movements.”

Mustapha urged state governments to align their actions and enforcement with the guidelines provided by the PTF.

“The virus does not respect boundaries neither does it respect status. All state governments are, therefore, urged to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement machinery in collaboration with the security agencies,” he stated.

You should be ready to go through validation, PTF tells researchers

The SGF urged researchers to come up with home grown drugs and vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19.

He, however, said they must be patient to go through the validation process to establish safety of their drugs and avoid litigation

He said, “Since the recording of the index case, Nigerians have clamoured for research into home grown solutions to COVID-19.

“The PTF, as part of its mandate, has continued to promote research and wishes to repeat its appeal to all our researchers to go through the validation process so as to enable humanity to benefit from their hard work and they in turn benefit from the intellectual property rights associated with such research.”


‘COVID-19 vaccine won’t be ready until 2021’

He urged Nigerians to abide by the PTF guidelines to fight the virus.

Mustapha said, “Ordinarily, from the little literature I have read on COVID 19, we are not expecting any vaccine to be on the shelves until towards the end of 2021. That is for industries that have perfected the processes of manufacturing of this vaccine.”

The SGF also challenged the private sector to continue to support government in order to fortify the health system and infrastructure against present and future pandemics.

Responding to a question, the SGF said hotels accommodating Nigerians evacuated from abroad would be decontaminated after 14 days isolation of the returnees before receiving a new batch.

Also, the National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, lamented that large movements of people across state borders were frustrating efforts aimed at containing the pandemic.

He appealed to security agencies to rise to the challenge and stop the trend, except for essential services.


FG approves hazard allowances for COVID-19 health workers

Also at the press briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government had signed a deal approving hazard allowances for health workers involved in the COVID-19 containment.

He said the agreement had been forwarded to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Ehanire noted that the Nigerian Medical Association and other stakeholders were present at signing of the deal, which had also been forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.


PTF deploys pathologists to probe strange deaths Bauchi, Jigawa, others

He said the Federal Ministry of Health assembled and trained pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kano states who were thereafter sent to probe the strange deaths in the states.

He said, “With regard to the investigation in Kano (deaths), it is going to be a very scientific investigation and they will sit down to collate a report. They are trying to ensure that there is no room for error. I have not seen it yet, but it is in the pipeline.

“I have told the teams to bring pathologists to these states which are reporting these deaths. We have brought pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano and others to develop a protocol and training by which they can now carry out this investigation.”

He said the ministry had developed a protocol for accreditation of hospitals, adding the protocol had been given to many states.

He also said some hospitals, including private and public facilities, had been accredited treat the virus.

The minister stated, “The team that was sent to Kano has already been to four other states. The Federal Government and state hospitals; some private hospitals in Lagos, have been accredited by the accreditation team.”

He appealed to each state government to provide at least 300 bed spaces as isolation centres.

Ehanire also spoke about a COVID-19 patient at the National Hospital, Abuja, who allegedly insisted on her tests being conducted by the World Health Organisation officials.

The minister said, “On the lady at the National Hospital whom we have been engaging with. The history is already known that she came from the United Kingdom and has had three tests. She is due for another test, which she has refused to take. We strongly believe that she is by now negative but we have to be able to document it because we also work with guidelines released from the WHO.

“So, I called her on the phone and persuaded her to let them take the test. First, she gave me conditions that they (officials) must give her all her tests from the past. I gave an instruction and they took all her results, photocopies and gave them to her.”


Bar northern govs from deporting Almajirai, Reps tell FG

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to stop northern governors from deporting Almajirai from their states.

The House made the call at the plenary on Tuesday following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Mrs Aishatu Dukku and Mr Shehu Kakale on the need to halt interstate movement of Almajirai.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to “urge the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to enforce the interstate travel ban order (by the President) and direct the governors concerned to immediately halt the evacuation of the Almajirai.”

The House also urged the National Centre for Disease Control to “counsel the governors concerned on the threat posed by the evacuation of the children at this critical period.”

The legislative chamber further urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to “include the Almajirai children among the beneficiaries of palliatives being distributed by the Federal Government to the less-privileged.”

Also, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to examine the health condition of the Almajirai children.

It urged the Northern Governors’ Forum to “rescind their decision on banning the system of education until those already in the system are provided for in the Universal Basic and Technical Education System.”

Moving the motion, Dukku recalled that governors, under the aegis of the Northern Governors’ Forum, had on April 21, 2020, issued a statement where they unanimously decided to ban the Almajirai system.

Dukku said, “The House is worried that the evacuation of the Almajirai is jeopardising the fight against COVID-19 due to the high level of movement of the children from different places and its attendant high risk of infection. The House is concerned that the evacuation of the children is against their fundamental human rights of residing anywhere in Nigeria as guaranteed in Chapter IV of the Constitution.”

https://punchng.com/nigerians-picking-face-masks-from-dump-sites-ptf-cries-out/

He also said northern state governments, which had been evacuating the Quranic school pupils, popularly known as Almajirai, to their states of origin should suspend it.

Very apt.

Coronavirus doesn't move around, they are moved.

Outlawing the practice of sending hungry children to other towns to fend for themselves under whatever guise, is a commendable step towards ending these social ills called Almajiri.

But this is certainly a wrong time for doing this.

It is just like puncturing the efforts by all stakeholders in controlling the spread of this virus.

Such action at this time is pound foolish and penny wise.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has raised the alarm over an unhealthy practice of some Nigerians who pick face masks from rubbish dumps and sell them

Imagine wickedness of some people..

Anyways, me I have never used that facemask and never pray to . That's why I am currently rearing squirrel on my bushy hair...

.

If this is true then shame to Nigeria govt. If d govt share face masks to all citizens will anybody try such rubbish. And it won't cost them more than 1billion naira. And this is the same govt that has made over 200 billion naira for d fight against covid 19. Don't bring up issues that u could have avoided. Before u accuse citizens of any misconduct did u play ur part to avoid such issues. If no, then shut d f up. If hungry Nigerians decide to go and pick up food from d gutters or refuse dumps will u say Nigerians are picking up food from d gutters which is dangerous to health? Mumu govt. They are only after their pocket and using their hole in their face to talk gibberish as if they are working.

This covid opened my eyes to a lot of things. Africans behave like animals because of how d govt treat the masses. At a point I was tempted to steal which I have never thought of in my entire life. In Europe or America u don't see things like this because d govt makes provision for the masses at least d basic needs. If Africa leaders should remove selfishness from their agenda and play their roles in fending for d masses which is why they were voted to power. U would see how we will compete with Europeans. How many European countries are richer than us? Abeg make that boss mustapha go sit down.

It shows the rate masses are suffering.

Poverty!

Nigeria is a failed nation!

Even the poor and the most vulnerable who are suppose to at least get some benefits have been forgotten and abandoned. I don't blame them for going to pick up used and contaminated face masks, they can't afford to get one and neither can they afford to stay at home doing and earning nothing to feed.

You put people on lockdown without providing anything for them to sustain thier daily feeding, yet all we keep hearing are audio reports.

Gaint of Africa? Hell No!

This country is beyond repair. Ladies check this out

this people would just seat in Abuja and start fabricating lies, no Nigerian right now would be stupid to use a facemask thrown in the trash, its like saying Nigerians re use toilet papers and sanitary pads


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picking face mask from dumpsite is it already used once by ex infected patient not adding up but m sure it in the northerners they like picking up scraps they need proper learning cause they still playing with the covid 19 problems

My People Perish For Larck Of Understanding And Poverty Is Bad

how can we believe this COVID 19 hoax when woman was "forcefully arrested" for testing positive. she stands that she is not, she refuses to be mingled with infected patients and refuses your drugs. suddenly, she is negative.
how many wrong diagnoses like this do we have among the numbers NCDC declare at midnight?
even, her news is hidden between other news

paw paw and goat us testing positive to COVID 19, what else to look for?

in isolation centres, patients are dancing, playing and making fun of the whole charade going on in this country

chloroquine, Remdesivir, vitamin supplements and COVID organic are drugs people are rushing to save the lives if their people, but FG is still dragging feet on these drugs.

apache22b:
I am ecstatically delighted and disproportionately flabbergasted with enormous gratification and appreciation for the dispensation of such a tendering and mesmerizing information in which the prestidigitation of the concurrent and subsequent matter is thoroughly demonstrated through the innuances alluding to literal and metaphorical context. It is highly imperative to note that, such is the significance of the aforementioned, distortion in any shape or form will result in catastrophic ramifications to which will be the outcome of epic proportions. I thank you for your unequivocal.

No likes for you Mr PAtrick

Wahala dey oh

NAWA

Nigeria, d most wicked & backward country in terms of reasoning , attitude & mentality in the entire universe!!!! Some just have their brains stuffed inside their anus..

Like I said before :
قلهبيتت هخححت هال خيسطا خمتلدرن هنن ذققصن خممرزلطر،
উছথতমব ছছজঝঝণমভব ঝঝজতণ, ঝঝথতণডব,
ดนนาเดกแสบล,รยจร้เออบ,คจตร้บลี้ยลลลลรรรดกป
အင၈ငကအိနအကကြါ်ိ ငင၉ ကက၈၊၈၉9ကပ့၊ففگفشےءیی, ےءءیءے, ے7یء شفءجج, ءء.
那坨去死 奥迪第四 线路图，咯哦哦哦吧饿了起咯。

Ok

Why don't u people just burn it.. Which one be cry out..
Oh Africa

Good development

Lets give room for our scientist to showcase their drugs cos some are saying they have drugs that will cure this virus.

Deployment of almajiris back to their respective state should stop for now to avoid spreading of the virus...

if u won get heart attack watch dis ptf committee on covid19

apache22b:
I am ecstatically delighted and disproportionately flabbergasted with enormous gratification and appreciation for the dispensation of such a tendering and mesmerizing information in which the prestidigitation of the concurrent and subsequent matter is thoroughly demonstrated through the innuances alluding to literal and metaphorical context. It is highly imperative to note that, such is the significance of the aforementioned, distortion in any shape or form will result in catastrophic ramifications to which will be the outcome of epic proportions. I thank you for your unequivocal.

Are your eyes yellow? What about your face? Is your face yellow as if you are bleaching? Do you notice your urine when you piss? Is your urine yellow? This looks like chronic yellow fever. Please check the nearest herbs seller for cure.

Are we really that poor in this country that someone will actually go to dump sites to pick used and dirty masks for re-sale.?!

This Covik taskforce don hammer based on daily allowance

L

We can all agree that Nigeria has no leadership and lack direction. This crisis has exposed the
APC lead administration for what they are, inept and callous.