The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has revealed that the Presidential Task Force is working on a package to compensate the health workers who have been treating coronavirus patients.

The Minister made the announcement on Monday during a briefing of the progress made so far by the team.

He said, “The Presidential Task Force is working on compensation packages to recognise the sacrifices and further motivate the brave health workers who directly take on the Coronavirus challenge”.

He explained that the packages go beyond the Life Insurance for public servants, Rotinue Government Compensation and Health Workers Hazard allowance.

Dr Ehanire also commended a private company for offering free life insurance cover for about 5,000 health workers.

” We must also laud the life insurance offer of free 5000 workers cover which was donated by a private company”.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health has started a comprehensive review of the Health Sector COVID-19 Response which he said will build a new robust strategic action plan and structure that will address the expected challenges of the sector.

COVID-19 Update
Dr Ehanire while giving an update of the pandemic in the country, he said, “As of today, a total of 323 COVId-19 cases have been confirmed, 85 patients discharged and 10 deaths have been recorded.

“The five new cases are reported from three states, Lagos has two, Kwara two and one from Katsina.

“We have 11 functional COVID-19 laboratories in Nigeria which is a good number from where we started.

“All these follow the activation of laboratories in Kano and Jos.

“We have prepositioned laboratory testing sample and collection kits nationwide”.

The minister added that the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will continue to support response activities in states with new outbreaks through timely deployment of Rapid Response Teams.

He said that the accreditation team has finalised protocols for use in accrediting isolation and treatment centres to meet good standards.

According to him, four centres inspected over the weekend have been accredited in the Abuja metropolis and certified ready for use.

“The Case Management Team has concluded the training and healthcare workers in Abuja who will be attending to workers in these isolation and treatment centres”.

Dr Ehanire advised medical practitioners on the risk of treating coronavirus patients at home.

He said, “Let me again advise my professional colleagues particularly in the private sector that, it is very risky to be treating coronavirus patients in private homes or in their own hospital establishments without IPC training or accreditation.

“The hazards are very serious with regard to self infection or cross-infection, the evidence of which has already manifested in some states”.

The minister further commended individuals, cooperate bodies for their donations so far.

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