20th April, 2020
By Our Reporter
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said every private hospital that would like to treat COVID-19 patients must have an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) discipline, aimed at controlling spread of the virus.
Ehanire stated this in Abuja at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
“IPC is a universal discipline with relevance to all aspects of healthcare. It is part of every healthcare workers’ duty of care to ensure that no harm is done to patients, visitors or staff”, the minister said.
“All healthcare workers require at least a basic understanding of IPC principles and practice,” he said.
Ehanire stated that private hospitals that have the capacity to manage the pandemic outbreak in the country should seek certification from the Federal Ministry of Health, for standardisation and safety of frontline workers and other patients.
The minister noted that all emergency isolation and treatment centres established by the PTF have also undergone the same process in view of the danger posed by this infectious disease.
He said over 90 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 would recover, as there were three levels of isolation and treatment centres.
“Isolation I;people who may have COVID-19 and mandatory quarantine for persons returning from abroad. Isolation II; people who have COVID-19, mild or moderate symptoms. Isolation III; people who have COVID-19, severe or critical symptoms,” he said.
The minister said that University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja, were the designated Isolation facilities in Abuja.
He called on Nigerians to report to accredited centres for best chances of survival and recovery, adding that they should trust scientifically proven advisories and ignore fake news.
“Together, we shall get control of COVID19,” he said.