The Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 has appealed to government hospitals and operators of medical facilities and doctors not to neglect the treatment of patients with other ailments as this could result to avoidable deaths.
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The PTF on COVID -19 said it had received reports about medical facilities and doctors turning back sick patients for fear of their illnesses being Covid-19 related.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the PTF on COVID -19, Boss Mustapha made the appeal on Monday during its briefing.
Mustang said the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire would engage with the management of tertiary health institutions in the country to address the matter.
He said: “The PTF has also received reports about medical facilities and doctors turning back sick patients for fear of their illnesses being COVID-19 related. The PTF appeals to these facilities especially public hospitals not to neglect treatment of other ailments because such actions have resulted in avoidable deaths.
“The Honourable Minister of Health will engage the management of our tertiary health institutions to address this.”
Mustapha said the PTF’s early monitoring of the level of compliance with some of the measures rolled out following the easing of lockdown on Monday 4, showed lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks.
The SGF expressed worries over chaotic scenes around banks and other financial institutions on the first day of the easing of lockdown.
He reiterated that the danger of COVID -19 was not over and that individual actions would contribute to the success or failure of the new measures in place.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last week ordered a gradual phasing of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun and Lagos States.
Mustapha said: “Today marks the beginning of Mr. President’s directives to ease the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States and the Federal Capital Territory and the introduction of new measures nationwide. The guidelines on the first phase of the new measures spanning 4th -17th may, 2020 have been published in eight newspapers.
“Awareness is also being created through broadcast on electronic medium, on line platforms as well as dissemination in local languages by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other sources.
“The PTF has been monitoring the level of compliance with some of the measures and early observations showed lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks.
“We note particularly the chaotic scenes around the banks and other financial institutions. We must reiterate that the danger of infection is not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of our measures.
“We urge citizens to minimize the risk of getting infected while trying to transact in the banks. We similarly urge the banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems are in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.
“The PTF fully understands the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown. States Governments and Security agencies have however, been advised to enforce the measures rigidly and violators will be prosecuted.
“Let me remind you, once more, that this easing up is in phases and those who are permitted to open have clearly been defined. Our admonition to Nigerians is that it is still desirable to stay at home if there is no compelling reason to go out and to comply with the measures always, whether at home or not.”
Mustapha also expressed concerns over the implementation of the ban on inter-state movement by Buhari, saying that the ban was imposed to limit the spread of the virus.
“The PTF has also received reports on the level of compliance with the nationwide ban on inter-state movement. The objective of the ban is to slow down the spread of virus across state boundaries. The determination of government to enforce this policy is not in doubt and as we progress, we believe that proper alignment with the directives of Mr. President would be pursued.
“There has been very noticeable relocation of Almajiris from one state to another, up until yesterday. With the ban on interstate movement, the continuation of this exercise will not be in alignment with the guidelines issued. The PTF shall engage with the respective State Governments on how to achieve their objectives.
“As we journey into this new phase of measures, it is imperative that I re-iterate the importance of adherence to the guidelines more so that preliminary reports indicate that there is observable high level of breaches by the citizenry.
“I wish to at this point convey the assurances of the security forces that the rights of Nigerians will be protected and their lives and property protected. Therefore, I passionately appeal to Nigerians to desist from attacking security personnel in the discharge of their duties and not recourse to taking the laws into their hands,” he said.
The PTF chairman said that the teams dispatched from Abuja to Kano have continued to work with the State Structure, adding that appreciable achievements have been recorded in improving manpower support, deploying appropriate equipment, increased testing capacity and treatment centres.
According to him, efforts are also on-going to upscale the training of medical personnel in Kano and neighboring states on the management of infectious diseases and to provide them with PPEs for protection.
“Private hospitals have also been advised to seek accreditation before taking up the management of infectious diseases.
“Our collaboration with the Kano State Government still remains focused on strengthening their existing structures, especially for sustainability. The results coming out from the state is a comforting indication that efforts put in place, which are being strengthened, would yield expected results,” he added.
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