Upon inauguration in March 2020, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was tasked to primarily control the pandemic by interrupting viral transmission, reduce the risk of the health system being overwhelmed due to increased demand; and minimise mortality among the most vulnerable parts of the population. In achieving these three-pronged objectives, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the recent extension of its mandate over the upsurge in number of infections is still a call to duty
When the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 was inaugurated, the task before them was broken into three parts- interrupting viral transmission, reducing the risk of the health system being overwhelmed due to increased demand; and minimising mortality among the most vulnerable parts of the population.
With backing from the presidency, legislature, state governors, ministries, representatives of the network of partners, the PTF kicked off its mandate and had over the months tackled the pandemic with relevant health ministries, departments and agencies. The first mandate was for six month but they got an additional three months extension.
At the end of the three months extension in December, the presidency once again extended it to another three months in a bid to tackle the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
Giving account of the first nine months in office,in his submission at the PTF end of the year report on COVID-19, the Chairman, Boss Mustapha, who also doubles as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said the taskforce led the execution of interventions geared towards achieving epidemic control of COVID-19 in Nigeria since March 2020, when it was inaugurated.
Giving a breakdown of the objectives why the taskforce was set up, Mustapha said the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, which is championing Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, has been driven by science and data, adding that it was designed to achieve three primary aims of epidemic control by interrupting viral transmission, reducing the risk of the health system being overwhelmed due to increased demand; and minimising mortality among the most vulnerable parts of the population.
The other objectives he added include “the reinvigoration of our nation’s health system, infrastructure and manpower to enable Nigeria conveniently confront any future outbreak and also build her potentials for medical tourism which has been a source of foreign exchange and brain drain over the years”.
With the successes recorded in the first six months, the taskforce’s mandate was extended for another three months. According to Mustapha, “the operations of the PTF have been driven through out the initial six months and the extended three months mandate, by a multi-sectoral process which facilitated expansive and indepth consideration of issues as well as speedy decision making.
“The process enjoyed the overwhelming support of the partners from the private sector and the international community. Through these partners, Nigeria was able to put in place critical infrastructure nationwide, procure scarce medical equipment, test kits, and personal protective materials, etc.”
Not solely restricted to the medical and scientific aspect of the countering the pandemic, the PTF was also able to deliver palliatives to Nigerians in the various states. For transparency, two web portals sponsoredby the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the UNDP were opened for the tracking of resources mobilised from all sources. Similarly, a national register of resources mobilised has been created and remains under constant updating, he added.
Stating that the end of the year report represents the state of the National Response as at the end of nine months of hard work, he stressed that it remains work in progress because COVID-19 has not abated.
“Countries of the world including Nigeria, have been experiencing a second wave of infections which has proven to be more virulent. This, the report being presented has captured for posterity the strategy adopted, the resources mobilised and committed, achievements recorded, lessons learnt and it represents a useful roadmap for a national response, should emergencies occur in future.”