Coronavirus: FG threatens to close down private hospitals engaging in unauthorised treatment
- The federal government has declared that it would close down any private hospital that engages in unauthorised treatment
- Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health, made this known on Thursday, April 16
- Ehanire warned that the country cannot afford avoidable morbidity and mortality
The federal government has issued a warning message to all private hospitals across the country engaging in unauthorised treatment of cases of coronavirus pandemic.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the threat was issued on Thursday, April 16, by the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, saying that the government would not hesitate to close down private hospitals that engage in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19.
Legit.ng gathered that the minister warned that the country cannot afford avoidable morbidity and mortality.
Speaking during the daily media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Ehanire stated that private facilities must obtain accreditation to treat the highly infectious disease; warning that practitioners who engage in unauthorised treatment run the risk of being shut down.
The minister said: “I shall use this opportunity to again strongly advise health professionals against private or secret management of people who have COVID-19 outside of accredited health facilities. We cannot afford avoidable morbidity and mortality.
"Private facilities must obtain accreditation to treat this highly infectious disease. Practitioners engaging in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19, run the risk of being shut down for decontamination.”
Source: Twitter
Due to the evidence of community transmission in the country now, Ehanire said the next phase of their strategy is to focus on the community.
“There will be more community testing and social mobilisation at the grassroots to ensure physical distancing and advisories on the use of masks or improvised face coverings like handkerchiefs or scarves over the mouth and nose, to reduce risk of transmission,” the minister said.
He, however, pointed out that the revised case definition for testing includes all patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome; contacts of people confirmed to have COVID-19, with fever and respiratory tract symptoms; and persons with fever and respiratory tract symptoms of unknown cause.
Giving the update on the number of cases, discharged and death recorded, he stated that it was quite unfortunate that the latest fatality in Lagos is a medical professional.
The minister said: “I want to express my condolences to the family. This highlights the risk to health workers in this COVID-19 response. Patients with mild symptoms are still very highly infectious, and mild symptoms in one person could be a deadly infection in another. That is why we recommend the suspension of close contact between grandchildren and grandparents, at this time.
“Our valuable health workers are urged to adhere to all government instructions and regulations; always utilise personal protective equipment (PPE); maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19; and protect yourselves, your loved ones and your colleagues.
“As of today, 16th April, 2020, a total of 407 people have been confirmed to have COVID-19, 99 patients have been discharged and 12 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria, all with comorbidities. The 34 new cases confirmed are distributed as follows: 18 in Lagos, 12 in Kano, 2 in Katsina, and 1 each in Delta and Niger states,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the presidency lambasted a former member of the Senate, Dino Melaye, for sharing an old video to deceive Nigerians and cast aspersion on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration during the trying period of coronavirus pandemic in the country.
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Source: Legit.ng