COVID-19: Two 500-bed isolation and treatment centers ready in FCT, Borno

By GRACE AUDU (Abuja) and SADIQ ABUBAKAR (Maiduguri) –

The 500-bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Center located at the Idu District of Federal Capital City was on Monday officially commissioned by the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.

The commissioning ceremony, witnessed by many stakeholders, followed the handing over of the centre to the FCTA by the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee chaired by the former Minister of the FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.

This came as the Borno State Commissioner of Health and Secretary of the High Powered Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Dr. Aliyu Salihu Kwya Bura announced that the setting up of a 500-bed isolation centre in the state with 100 beds already supplied.

Dr. Aliyu Bura, who made this known at the daily press briefing held at Multi-purpose Hall of the Government House, Maiduguri on Monday, also confirmed  that  in Borno state, 185 positive cases had been recorded  by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as at Sunday.

In his remarks during the handing-over ceremony, the FCT Minister said that the Advisory Committee which comprises entirely of individuals from the organized private sector was established with the realization that the galvanization of all human and material resources was necessary for the fight against the disease.

The Minister said that apart from the work done at the Idu Isolation Center, the Committee also provided one 350KVA generators each at the isolation and treatment enter of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada and the Karu General Hospital. This is in addition to the donation of substantial amount of palliatives, PPEs and other ancillary equipment.

While expressing the gratitude of the FCTA to the Committee, Malam Bello said that the Committee also worked tirelessly with all the relevant FCT agencies in providing much needed advice, interventions and suggestions and this, has contributed to the containment of the virus to a large extent in the Territory.

Their contributions, the Minister continued also made it possible for a of community testing to be carried out adding that the FCTA was also in discussion with the Committee for the establishment of other isolation centers in the Territory.

The Minister however charged residents of the FCT not to be complacent in dealing with the virus saying that failure to comply with the established guidelines of social distancing, face covering while in public and maintenance of physical hygiene, may lead to the 1000 bed spaces available in the FCT not being enough to contain the spike that might follow.

He therefore charged residents to view the fight against COVID-19 as a personal fight for survival.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar said that the FCT Minister charged the Committee of 28 members to mobilize human, financial and material resources to augment and support what the FCTA was already doing in the fight against COVID-19 in the Territory.

The Committee, he said was broken into four sub-committees comprising Medical, Logistics, Resource Mobilization and Public Affairs and Media and also co-opted several volunteers and other experts who all worked pro-bono. Their reward he said is the pleasure of having to serve Abuja, the city they all love and cherish.

He also reminded residents of the FCT that COVID-19 is indeed real and that everyone should be committed to fighting the dangerous and debilitating disease and thanked the FCT Minister for granting them the opportunity to serve and pledged the willingness of members of the Committee to continue to work hard until the disease is eradicated in the FCT and the nation as a whole.

Also present at the event were the Honourable Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, officials from the NCDC and the WHO as well as senior members of  staff of the FCTA.

Companies and individuals that contributed to the establishment of the Idu Isolation and Treatment Center include; Future Assured Foundation under the leadership of Her Excellency, the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, Polaris Bank Limited, Fate Foundation, Julius Berger Nig. PLC, HIS Towers, CCECC, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Salini Nig. Ltd, HITS Furniture Ltd, Yaliam Press, Senator Aishatu (Binani) Dahiru Ahmed, Mohammed Jibrin and Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.

The Borno Health Commissioner  further said that so far, more than 18 infected patients had been treated and discharged from the two Isolation Centers that had been set up in Maiduguri.

According to the commissioner, “Borno state  now has a capacity of testing 50 samples per day and  it takes minimum of 7 hours to get result of one sample daily. With recent development and improvement, we were able to carry out test of 75-100 persons daily.

“Government has also identified and set up 500 bed isolation centre in Borno state and about 100 have already been supplied.

“100 bed are ready within the facility and number of staff have been deployed. With 250 KVA stand by generator, We have linked it to the national grid as well we have also provide portable water supply within the premises.

“At the State Isoalation Centre,  we have about 59 patients, most of the patients at the State Isolation Centre are quite asymptomatic , and are critical. And nnfortunately, we have recorded 28 death so far and received 50 COVID-19 patients,” Dr. Aliyu Bura said.

He also reminded  the public that Covid-19 disease does not warrant any stigmatization anywhere, adding, “it’s just like a Diabetics, hypertension, malaria.”

The Commissioner further  advised  the people  that whenever they experience any symptom,  they should move to the identified health facilities they are closer to.

He  however also warned that any public or private laboratory or pharmacy that attempt to treat Covid-19 patient would face the wrath of the law..

Dr. Kwaya Bura added also  that, Amy private laboratory that attempt to test or diagnose any  COVID-19 patients  will be  punished accordingly and  the premises will be shutdown or even the license  will be withdrawn.

He reiterated that private Hospitals were also not allowed to receipt  or attempt or  treat any patient with COVID-19 symptoms.

The Commissioner said that Borno State Governor has distributed  over 5000 face mask, 2000 disposable hand gloves, and 2000 pieces of PPE. And the high powered committee really appreciated that and commended the state governor Babagana Umar Zulum.

He also revealed that there were now  two functional Isolation Centres in the state capital  while that if Biu town will be ready by Friday this week,  noting that, “it wouldn’t be activated until the cases rises above the capacity of the one we  are using. ”

He then commended the press for given out timely and factual  information to the people on th COVID19 in the state  so far.

The Special Adviser Information to the Govenror,  Hon. Tukur Mshelia who is also a member of the State  High Powered  Reapinse Team on COVID19 called on  the public  to come to the already specified health facilities or call the emergency free toll lines so that their ailment  could  be controlled on time before it deteriorates

He  also noted  that if people come on time to th facility center,  it will  helps them more than coming late,  noting that,  90 of the cases survived.

“However, some precondition cases prior to the Covid-19 can also be controlled if timely  reported.”, Tukur said.

Mshelia also  assured that COVID-19 is not a death sentence and can be  cured and controlled while  soliciting  for support from  Journalists to  enlighten and educate  the people on negative insinuation that doctors  were putting different  results for the people even though it was  not  a COVID-19 sickness.

He  explained that Covid-19 can  trigger some  precondition health challenges while  advising  that  people should not  doubt the medical doctors.