The United Nations (UN) has delivered vital health supplies to the
Federal Government to support the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in
Nigeria.
The country has already recorded 447 coronavirus cases, as of
yesterday in 22 states of the federation.
UNICEF’s Chief of Communications Friday in a statement in Maiduguri
said: (Today (Friday); the received vital health supplies to fight
against COVID-19 are on a flight funded by APM Terminals.”
According to him, the supplies include 10,000 test kits, 15 oxygen
concentrates, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Other delivered COVID-19 fight health supplies, comprise vaccines,
IEHK/PEP kits, and other vital health supplies.
“We’ll support the Nigerian Government’s COVID-19 Response Plan and
UNICEF’s work with children and families in Nigeria,” assured
Drakopoulos.
The supports, according to him, are through the National Center for
Disease Control (NCDC), to prevent and respond to the COVID-19
pandemic in affected states across the country.
On the funded health supplies, he said “They are co-financed by the
European Union (EU) and IHS Nigeria, the Nigerian subsidiary of IHS
Towers.
“Additional COVID-19 response supplies are expected in a UN joint
flight to be delivered to Nigeria before end of this month.”
On safety of health workers, he said: “The PPE will protect medical
personnel and ancillary staff who are the first res-ponders in the
front line,” adding that they are providing care and treatment to
people affected by virus.
While the test kits, he said; will enable healthcare workers to test
those who suspect they may have the virus to verify their health
status.
“They can get treatment and protect their families and communities,” he assured.
He warned that to limit the spread of the virus, it is important to
test as many people as possible, particularly those with recent travel
history and who came in contacts with travelers.
“These test kits will support Nigeria’s drive to control the
transmission of COVID-19 infections and support the Government’s
ongoing strong efforts to protect the country from an escalating
pandemic,” said Edward Kallon, UN’s Resident Coordinator in Nigeria.
He said since the outbreak of COVID-19 late February, the UN has been
supporting the federal government to respond to the pandemic through
risk communications and community engagement infection prevention and
control.
“The COVID-19 response through epidemiology/surveillance and
management of coronavirus cases could halt its further spread in
Nigeria,” he said.
He said the UN is developing and disseminating messages, infographics,
and audio-visual material informing the public about the risks of
COVID-19 across the country, and how to protect one self.
On containing pandemic, he said: “Working closely together with the
Government and other partners, including the private sector, is the
surest way of preventing and containing the virus.”
