By Hassan Zaggi
The Federal Government has vowed that it will ensure equitable distribution of the 26 ventilators and 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse oximeters donated to it by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the management of patients in isolation and treatment facilities as well as home based patients’ monitoring.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, gave the assurance while receiving the equipment in Abuja, Thursday.
He applauded the global health body for the donation, noting that WHO had been supporting Nigeria since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic through the provision of guidance, capacity building and essential equipment among others.
According to Ehanire, the ventilators and oxygen equipment would not only help support Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, but also help provide essential care across health facilities beyond the pandemic.
He assured that those saddled with the responsibility of distributing the equipment will do so equitably across the country.
Speaking while donating the 26 ventilators and 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse oximeters to the federal government, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, explained that they are for the management of patients in isolation and treatment facilities as well as Home based patients’ monitoring.
He noted that: “With the 3rd wave now upon the country, the expectations from all is not any less.
“It is against this backdrop we wish to demonstrate our continued support of the Federal Ministry of Health’s efforts in further strengthening the country’s capacity in case management.
“This is in addition to our ongoing support across all pillars of the country’s COVID-19 response at Federal and State levels.
“We are sure this donation will complement the notable initiatives that the Government of Nigeria is implementing, including with support from other partners, to address the identified gap in readiness for the 3rd wave that is being driven by the Delta variant, especially if it results in more cases requiring treatment than what was registered at the peak of the 2nd wave.”
The WHO Representative, therefore, encouraged all Nigerians to be mindful of discontinuing public health and social measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places and always observing hand hygiene.
Mulombo, however, warned that the safety measures too early “could see us losing some of the gains already achieved.”
