Sequel to the identification of one case of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus in Lagos last week, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has opened two isolation wards at the National Hospital, Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwgagwalada for suspected cases of the virus.
Director, FCT Department of Public Health Josephine Okechukwu who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja also said, although there was no identified case of the virus in the FCT, the Administration is taking proactive measures in case of outbreak.
Okechukwu revealed that at the moment, there is also an ongoing training by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State, for Health Care Workers who would manage any case of the virus if it occurs in any part of the Territory.
She stated that a lot is also being done in the FCT, such as spraying of every passenger coming into the country through the Nnamdi International Airport, Abuja from the high-risk countries, screening them on arrival, taking their temperature and other vital symptoms.
The Director of Public Health said the Department has also trained over 200 Health Workers in Abuja Municipal Area Council l (AMAC) and Abaji Area Council on Lassa fever and Coronavirus while sensitization of residents is ongoing in all the six Area Councils of the FCT.
“For us in the Department of Public Health we have been sensitizing the communities. We have gone through the six area councils, except Abaji to sensitise them on Lassa fever and the Coronavirus.
“For the health care workers, there have been ongoing trainings on Coronavirus and Lassa fever and other epidemic-prone diseases. Over 200 healthcare workers have so far been trained in AMAC and Bwari area council”, Okechukwu added.
She advised FCT residents to stop the panic over the virus but urged them to take the necessary preventive measures such as personal hygiene of hand washing with soap, minimizing the culture of hand shake and hug, use of alcoholic sanitisers, covering of mouth when coughing as well as keeping the environment clean to stop coronavirus and lassa fever from growing in the environment.
James Kwen, Abuja
