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DR HENRY ARCHIBONG LAUDS FG ON CORONA VIRUS CHECK
The Member Representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dr Henry Archibong has commended the Federal Government for taking necessary steps aimed at preventing the spread of Coronavirus from China into the country.
Dr Archibong made the remarks while receiving a briefing from the Director General, Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in Abuja.
Ihekweazu said there have been 364 confirmed cases of lassa fever and 47 deaths so far recorded in 23 states across the country with Ondo and Edo state recording the highest number of casualties.
Dr. Ihekweazu further stated that NCDC has intensified its Port Health Services at various ports of entry by setting up a Coronavirus preparedness Group that meets daily to assess the risk/strengthen preparedness and response activities, intensive media engagements, issuance of public health advisories, issuance of Guidance to State Commissioners of Health, CMDs, NCDC receiving support from WHO, Africa CDC, West Africa Health Organisation.
He stressed that the response commodities- PPEs, Ribavirin (injection and tablets), tents, IEC materials provided by NCDC to states.
Intensive risk communication activities – press release, public awareness through the media, multi sectoral National RRT deployed to Ondo, Ebonyi, kano, Enugu, Borno.
He further explained that the agency has put in place the following response mechanisms to tackle the epidemic in the country;
Emergency operations Centre (EOC) activated at level 2 at NCDC in collaboration with partners.
Responding, Dr. Henry Archibong who is a member, House Committee on Healthcare Services hailed the National Centre for Disease Control on the steps so far taken by the agency to educate the masses on how to prevent Lassa fever infection so as to curb the spread of the Lassa fever in Nigeria.
The lawmaker, however noted that, a lot still had to be done in the area of diagnosis and health education on the need to keep the environment clean, protect food from coming in contact with rats and rat droppings and urine as this was the mode of transmission of the Lassa fever infection from rat to man.
He also commended Nigeria’s response and preparedness with regards to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus infection in China and a few other countries.
He encouraged the agency to be proactive in the enlightenment campaigns and preparedness to contain the infection should it appear in Nigeria
He also inquired about the challenges that the agency is facing with regards to the efficiency and effectiveness of the center.
