Following the identification of one case of COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus in Lagos last week, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it has opened two isolation wards at the National Hospital and at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwgagwalada, for suspected cases of the virus.
Director of public health department in FCT, Dr Josephine Okechukwu, who disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend, stated that although there have not been any identified case of the virus in the FCT, the administration is taking all necessary measures in case if it occurs.
Okechukwu, who 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 that would manage the virus if it occurs in any part of the territory.
She added 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, as well taking other necessary details.
The director of public health stated that the department has also trained over 200 health workers in Abuja Municipal area council (AMAC) and Abaji area council on Lassa fever and Coronavirus, while sensitisation of residents is ongoing in all the six area councils of the FCT.
“For us in the department of public health we have been sensitising 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 councils.”