Nigeria records more deaths from other diseases than COVID-19 - PTF

Abiodun OBA

Nigeria is having more deaths from non-attendance to other diseases than even COVID 19.

The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) Chairman and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during the daily Press Briefing in Abuja.

Mustapha has attributed the avoidable occurrence to continued refusal by medical institutions including federal tertiary institutions to receive and treat patients for fear COVID-19.

PTF lamented that this development has resulted in several unfortunate and avoidable fatalities.

The SGF urged all the Chief Medical Directors and private health service providers to attend to other health challenges, which continue to confront our people on a daily basis stressing that the guidelines for dealing with patients presenting COVID 19 like symptoms are available and if these are applied by our medical service providers, there would be lesser risks of exposure to the virus

He said, “Statistics has shown that there is a drastic drop in the percentage of attention being paid to other ailments not related to COVID-19. This situation is made worse by the fact that federal tertiary institutions have been mentioned among those rejecting patients for fear of COVID. This is not acceptable. We are saddened by this development.

“The Minister of Health has reached at to all Medical Directors directing them to continue providing regular medical services so that we do not end up with avoidable deaths. Truth be told, we are having more deaths from non-attendance to other diseases than even COVID 19. The reason for the greater emphasis on COVID 19 is because it is a pandemic and if not curtailed has a capacity of wiping out large segments our population”.

Boss Mustapha observed that go is sparing no effort in coordinating the National response, collaborating with all necessary stakeholders, and supporting sub-national entities in their individual state responses, which we always maintain should be in synergy with the National Response.

“The significance of the Brazil case resides in the similarities between Africa and South America which calls for caution. The PTF, therefore, wishes to underscore the need to press further in the development of our infrastructure, intensify our non-pharmaceutical response, the need for our citizens to comply more and for our communities to get more involved. We say again, we cannot afford to be complacent, continue as if we are not under threat, doubt the virulent nature of COVID-19 and continue to allow the virus to ravage our communities because we are fully in the community phase of the spread”.

Boss Mustapha stated that the PTF has expanded the scope of collaboration and experience sharing to the ECOWAS in line with the role of Mr President as the ECOWAS COVID 19 Champion.

He said that the interface thorough the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO), will be deepened as part of the short, medium and long-term objectives for controlling the pandemic, noting that the essence of this regional effort is underscored by the huge population of Nigeria and the trade activities across the borders.

The SGF appealed to Nigerians to take the fight against COVID-19 with utmost diligence for self, family and the whole community.