By Hassan Zaggi
The medical team from the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), who had been drafted to Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, to undergo a special capacity building course with the World Health Organization (WHO), has been evacuated back to Nigeria.
The team was in Congo for a training to expand their knowledge as regards the management of Covid-19.
The medical team had been stranded following the closure of air and land borders by the host country ostensibly to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in Congo.
The Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo, Her Excellency, (Mrs) Deborah Iliya, disclosed this in a statement commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts so far in containing the dreaded disease in the country.
“This message of support is at the instance of the prompt action taken by the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in deploying a special flight of the Nigerian Air force, to convey back to the country a team of public health officials of the NCDC, who had been drafted to Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, to undergo a special capacity building course with the WHO, a training to expand their knowledge as regards the management of coronavirus and for their prompt deployment.”
The Ambassador, therefore urged Nigerians to rally round the government in the fight against the deadly virus.
“This trying moment calls for unity, support for each other and forging a common front against coronavirus and all that stand against peace,” she stressed.
In the same vein, the Ambassador, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, has commended the government and the good people of the Republic of Congo for what she described as, the singular act of solidarity and standing on good relations by the temporal opening of her airport to facilitate the departure of the team two days ago.
“This act has in no small measure further strengthened the bilateral harmony that exists between the two countries.”
She applauded the President of the Republic of Congo, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, for putting in place stringent measures aimed at ending the spread of the virus in the country.
The country, she noted has actively embarked on sensitization campaigns, while the public has also been mobilized for strict observation and compliance to all clinical advisory and lock down directives.
Essential commodity stores like foods and pharmaceutical stores are exempted, so are allowed to operate for the survival of the people.
High level of compliance as regards laid down rules, have been consistent.
