From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has approved the payment of operational safety allowances for frontline health workers who have been working round the clock to tame the raging global Coronavirus Disease ( COVID-19).
The state Commissioner of Health who is also the State Task Force Committee chairman on COVID-19, Alhaji Jafar Mohammed made the announcement yesterday in Birnin Kebbi.
The Health Commissioner said, “these allowances are structured to enhance the pay for the frontline health workers as a light compensation to the risks involved in handling the patients infected with COVID-19.”
He enumerated the affected workers to include Public Health Officers, Medical Officers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Medical Laboratory Scientists.
Others are Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, Directors of PHCs in the LGAs, Specialised Medical Consultants.
Jafar further disclosed that, according to the categories of the allowances, Consultants and Medical Officers will get N 20,000 and N15,000, daily, respectively.
Similarly, Nurses, Pharmacists and Medical Laboratory Scientists would be given N10,000, daily.
In the same vein, Ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will each be receiving N 5,000, daily.
According to the Task Force Chairman, the Occupational Safety Allowances for Medical Officers, as well as Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers have been graded according to the level of risks involvement.
Jafar stated that, accordingly, high, medium and low risk Officers will each N 15,000, N 10,000 and N 7,000, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Governor has also graciously approved an array of motivational incentives for the Task Force team members and other frontline health workers to curb the spread of the disease.
Accordingly, each of the members will get N 250,000, while the Chairman will garner N 500,000.
Jafar further disclosed that, Consultants will receive N 300,000, while Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Nurses at the Isolation Centres will each be given N 250,000.
In the same vein, Medical Officers at Hospitals trained on Infection prevention, control and case management will each pocket N 200,000.
Similarly, N 150,000, will be doled out to each of the Nurses at General Hospitals trained on Infection prevention, control and case management
The Commissioner further stated that, Epidomologists and surveillance Officers , Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) , Directors of PHC at state and LGs levels will each get N150,000,under the largesse.
The Task Force Chairman also averred that supporting staff at the EOC will each receive N100,000, while ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will each clinch N 50,000.
In a related development, Jafar disclosed that, five more COVID-19 patients have been discharged, as they had tested negative to the disease.
He said that, the total number of patients discharge from the Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo is now 16.
Jafar expressed delight,” this was the handiwork of the dedicated and diligent health personnel, as well as a sign of how beautiful of our healthcare delivery system.
“I must put it on record that, the Task Force members , the health team and other related officers have been working tirelessly, to effectively control the spread of the deadly pandemic.
