With the outbreak of Convid-19 virus (Coronavirus) in Hubei, China, and its attendance scare, followed by the WHO declaration of the disease as a global Public health emergency, on 30th January, 2020, the Federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has put its Agencies, health care facilities, line Ministries and other relevant authorities involved in public health emergency management on high alert.
Taking the lead, as an apex health authority, the Federal Ministry of Health, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, called for a Ministerial/multisectoral Preparedness and Response meeting, held at the Ministry’s headquarters on 2/2/2020.
The meeting was basically to acquaint attendees with matters arising as regards the outbreak of the Convid-19 virus in China, its status as a global
Threat and set up a committee to plan and come up with strategies for the prevention of importation of the Virus into Nigeria.
Members of the Committee, drawn from: NCDC, Federal Ministries of Information and Culture, Aviation, Finance, Immigration, Customs, FAAN, Interior, Transport, NEMA, USAID, US-CDC, Agriculture, amongst others, were expected to put in place an action plan for joint response in the event that importation does occur, to ensure it’s containment.
This effort by the Federal Government is to ensure coordinated response if a case should be identified in the Country.
So far, the Port Health Services Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, being the Public health authority at all points of entry has heightened surveillance activities at the five International airports of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
These surveillance activities include temperature detection, using thermal scanners and visual observation of those who may have signs and symptoms of illness. Forms are also provided to all airlines to be completed by their passengers before they alight the aircrafts. This measure is to enable the port health authority, screen the travell history of the passengers for further contact tracing and follow up surveillance activities if need be.
In the same vein, the Nigerian Centre for Disease control (NCDC), in addition to its other activities, has also promptly activated it’s Convid-19 preparedness group and incident command in case of any occurrence. Moreso, Nigeria, through NCDC, with the help of WHO and partners, now has IN – Country capacity to test for CONVID-19.
Consequently, the Minister took time to call on persons returning from China to self- isolate for 14 days and thereafter call on NCDC on 07032864444, if they develop symptoms.
The Minister has recently, carried out on -the -spot inspection tours of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Isolation Centres at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital UATH Gwagwalada and a similar facility at Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital to assess screening activities at the airport and level of preparedness at the centres.
In view of the importance of State Government, as critical stakeholders in management of Public health emergencies, the Minister of Health, has enjoined all State governors through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to scale up their emergency management capacity in preparedness for the existing threat.
Other efforts by the Federal Government include several appearances by the Minister of Health, on Television stations, to sensitize and intimate the Public on steps taken to prevent the importation of the Virus while assuring them of government’s capacity to test and handle the disease in case of its importation.
The Ministry’s Media unit is also synergising with its counterpart at the Federal Ministry of foreign affairs to coordinate and populate the websites of FMOH and FMIC with updates, press releases, newsletters and advisories.
These channels of communication are used to continuously keep Nigerians braised with government efforts and educated on safety measures to be adopted to protect themselves from contacting the disease.
To this end, the Minister of Health has resolved to keep holding weekly Press briefings inorder to keep the Public properly informed on latest developments regarding the disease even at the global level.
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
Head, Media and Public Relations FMOH
