Nigerian government limits movement of coronavirus patients to states virus is detected
The Nigerian government has restricted movement of coronavirus patients to the state(s), where they were confirmed positive, stressing that, henceforth, all confirmed cases of the virus in a state must be treated in such state.
Penpushing reports, that this was one of the resolutions adopted at the end of a virtual Emergency National Council of Health (NCH) meeting, which was aimed to further limit the spread of the virus.
The meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health with State Commissioners of Health and the acting Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Secretary for Health in attendance., noted that, there has been a number of cases where infected persons travelled to or where transferred to other states for treatment.
The Minister of Health, Prof Osagie Ehanire speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing noted that, one of such cases occurred when the Kano government transferred a positive patient to Jigawa, his state of origin
Penpushing further reports that, similar incident was that, the late chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari who travelled to Lagos for treatment after he tested positive for the virus in Abuja
“All persons diagnosed with COVID-19 be henceforth treated in the state where the diagnosis was made, rather than be referred to their states of origin except there is a medical indication to the contrary. This is to avoid the high risk of exposure of other persons in the course of transfer,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that, as way to make the restriction effective, a Patient Transport System has been developed for Abuja and will be set up in all States of the Federation, explaining that, this will ensure best treatment options for Nigerians.
“To ensure best treatment options for Nigerians, a protocol for a Patient Transport System has been developed for FCT and to be set up in all states of the Federation, meant to smoothly convey patients to specialized treatment centers or between treatment centers,” he said.
Penpushing reports that, he disclosed that the Nigeria Air Force and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have aircraft on standby to convey patients with critical conditions to locations with more advanced treatment centres.
The Minister advised private hospitals interested in managing coronavirus patients to apply to their State Health Ministries for a permit, and also warned that any pharmacist caught treating persons diagnosed with the virus would have their licenses withdrawn.
“Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and Pharmacists be forthwith prohibited from attempting to treat persons diagnosed as, or suspected to be COVID-19 patients, or else have their operating licenses cancelled’,he declared.
“Private hospitals desiring to manage COVID-19 patients apply to their State Ministries of Health for permit, meet standard IPC standards and be accredited by a FMoH certified State team after compliance with Protocols, before being granted,” the Minister emphasised.
