Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Katsina State chapter of the NMA, Dr Muhammed Abdulazeez, on Wednesday, told The PUNCH that 20 health workers in the state were among those who tested positive for COVID-19 .
He disclosed this while reacting to the death of the Medical Director of General Hospital, Mani, Dr Kabir Tijani. Tijani died on Tuesday and was buried the same day at 6.30pm.
The NMA chairman said circumstances surrounding the medical director’s death had yet to be determined, adding that results of samples taken from him for laboratory tests were being awaited.
Abdulazeez said, “Dr.Tijani died on Tuesday and we buried him at 6.30 pm same day following all protocols stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“We are not too certain he died of COVID-19.It would be more logical when the case is confirmed. We have taken samples for laboratory tests and the results are being awaited. You need to have an evidence-based conclusion. But we took every precaution and protocol spelt out by the NCDC during the burial as we did not want to take unnecessary chances.
“Initially, we have 14 health workers affected by the COVID-19. But, now,we have additional six, making the total number of health workers affected to be 20.”
The NMA chairman urged government to make available more personal protective equipment to health workers for their safety and protection.
He said, “The state government is trying but it needs to do more in curtailing the COVID-19 in the state. The state should build more isolation centres. The state also needs to quarantine any suspected COVID-19 patient even before the results carried on the fellow is out.
Also, the state government is using community leaders for COVID-19 contact tracing.
It was gathered that community leaders were given phone numbers of the state COVID-19 task force members for better communication.
The Chairman of the state Public Enlightenment Committee on COVID-19, Abdulkarim Sirika, said samples of 800 contacts had already been taken for tests.
Stigma remains major challenge in contact tracing – Kano official
In Kano State, the task force on COVID-19 says stigmatisation of patients is one of the major challenges the state is facing in contact tracing.
The state Coordinator, Dr Tijjani Husain, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, said, “Stigma is still an issue but we are continuing with contact tracing, identifying and following contacts so as to identify early those that developed symptoms, get them tested and put them on treatment.
We have traced over 10,000 contacts in Ogun, says govt
On its part, the Ogun State Government said it had contacted over 10,000 people as a result of COVID-19 cases in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, said this in an interview with The PUNCHon Wednesday.
He said, “In terms of contract tracing, we have done very well in Ogun State and of course, it is not a finishing line here, we have to continue. More than 10,000 contacts we have had, more are still being traced.”
NCDC steps up guidelines enforcement, releases phone numbers for whistleblowers
Meanwhile, the NCDC on Wednesday stepped up efforts to enforce guidelines released by the PTF last month.
As part of the efforts, the centre released phone numbers whistleblowers could call if people violated guidelines aimed at checking the spread of the virus.
The task force at many of its press briefings, frowned upon the manner Nigerians were violating the guidelines, including compulsory use of face masks, the ban on interstate movements and gathering of more than 20 people.
On its twitter handle on Wednesday, the NCDC stated, “If someone in your area is putting others at risk by refusing to self-isolate; reopening a school, bar, club and hosting a gathering of more than 20 people, call your state numbers.”
