… Laments Breaches Of Lockdown Relaxation
… Patients Absconding: Urges State Governors To Complement FG’s Efforts
Prospects of local researchers getting their drugs listed for the treatment of patients suffering from Coronavirus in the country, may have been dimmed, as the Federal Government on Thursday, gave subtle conditions under which it would begin using such remedies.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, said alternatives medicines can only be tried on patients, after they must have undergone scientific validation processes, being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Although some have met the preliminary requirements and have been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to carry out the necessary procedures for listing, there had been pressures on the presidential committee to also try alternative medicines, since it had been proven to be effective in the treatment of the virus in countries like Madagascar and Senegal.
In Nigeria, several notable medical practitioners like former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Prof. Maurice Iwu, Dr Ben Amodu, among others have insisted that they have effective cures for the virus as they have carried out researches in phyto medicines in the past.
There were also allegations that the World Health Organisation WHO which responsibility it was to assess and approve usage of such drugs had been acting uncooperative with such research findings because they were from Africa.
But Mustapha indirectly confirmed that the PTF was under pressures, when he said, “For some time now, there have been claims of inventions and cures related to COVID-19.
” The PTF, as part of its mandate, remains supportive of and receptive to outcomes of research. It however finds it imperative to re-iterate its position on the need for such discoveries to undergo the scientific validation processes.
“The PTF is aware that the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Department, of the Federal Ministry of Health, has been evaluating such claims and forwarded some that have met the preliminary requirements to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to carry out the necessary procedures for listing”.
Also preliminary observations since the federal government announced phased relaxation of the stay at home order indicates that the measure was not working out according to plans.
The PTF chairman confirmed this development when he said, non-compliance is manifesting in several ways and could be costly in the future.
According to him, there was high level of non-compliance with the ban on inter-state travels, this he noted has resulted in a high number of vehicles finding their way across many state borders despite the curfew/ border restrictions.
He also lamented the lack of respect for timing and the curfew which results in heavy traffic gridlock where many motorists spent the night following the enforcement of the curfew.
Recall that on the 4th of May 2020, when the lockdown was relaxed, President Muhammadu Buhari had announced a 8pm to 6am curfew nationwide as further measures to check the spread of the virus.
Boss said there was increasing level of abuse of exemption granted to vehicles conveying specified goods.
He said reports across the country show that they continue to hide passengers with the intention of ferrying them across state boundaries; and continual transportation of Almajiris across state borders was still evident.
“I have highlighted the foregoing as it relates to the road transportation sector to underscore the dangers inherent in the seeding of the virus across states. I however commend the security agencies for their vigilance in apprehending and prosecuting violators. It is, worrisome, however, to note reports received about isolated cases of compromise by some security operatives, “he stated.
While indicting some of the security agencies, he said we urge the various commands of the security agencies to enhance their monitoring machinery to ensure that we do not only achieve the objective of stopping the spread of the virus but also prevent the good name of the services from being tarnished. We also implore all Nigerians to alert the security agencies whenever they witness the violation of these guidelines.
The SGF also noted that the extension of the ban on all flights for additional four weeks takes effect from tonight.
He however said exemptions for flights in circumstances that are considered essential will be given where necessary.
He raised other concerns before the presidential task force, saying the first batch of Nigerian citizens from the United Arab Emirates are currently undergoing Isolation in designated places in Lagos State for a minimum of 14 days before they would be fully admitted into the society.
Among other challenges Boss highlighted at the daily briefing session in Abuja was reported cases of patients under quarantine absconding because of poor healthcare services.
He urged state governors to complement the efforts of the PTF by intervening where necessary, as the containment of the virus was a collective venture.
His words, “the first batch of 256 Nigerian evacuees arrived from the United Arab Emirates into Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday. In accordance with our protocol, all evacuees have been taken into 14-day isolation at designated facilities in Lagos State.
“The NCDC is conducting appropriate tests to determine their status within the period of isolation. The PTF is finalizing arrangements for similar evacuation from other parts of the world and you would be adequately briefed on developments.
“Once again, I want to express the appreciation of the PTF COVID19 to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwa-Olu, for his support in identifying and securing the facility for the mandatory 14-day isolation of these returnees.
“The PTF has become aware of a number of challenges associated with management of the isolation centres. These have manifested in the form of protests over welfare, abscondment from centres and loud complaints based on the assumption by persons under observation, that drugs must be administered.
“The first two are unhealthy developments capable of undermining the containment measures and putting the lives of care managers and frontline workers at risk. Similarly, persons in isolation are encouraged to follow the direction and instructions of the experts during their stay as treatment to be administered would largely depend on the evaluation of the doctor.
“We however urge all State Governments to continue to pay attention to the welfare of people in isolation and for security agencies to provide adequate security around such facilities to prevent escape”.
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