By Cyril Okonkwo, Abuja
The Nigerian government is releasing about N6.5billion for the development of new oxygen plants in 38 locations across the country.
This is in addition to the N55 million released to five tertiary institutions for the same purpose.
Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after Thursday’s virtual meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Okowa said that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed briefed the meeting, giving details of the releases for the production of oxygen, which has been necessitated by the increased number of covid-19 patients who need oxygen.
“One thing that has become very important is the need to ensure oxygen availability in every health institution where people are being attended to, especially the moderate to severe cases of the covid-19 infections because we know that lack of oxygen is a killer for those who have moderate or severe cases,” Okowa stated.
He said that states were advised to ensure that they have oxygen availability through oxygen generating plants.
Coalition Against Covid-19
Governor Okowa also said that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also briefed the meeting, detailing plans that are being made through the Coalition Against Covid-19, CACOVID, for the supply of oxygen to mainly Lagos and Abuja, and particularly to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital).
He said the CBN would continue to support states on request to ensure the availability of oxygen for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
50% attendance at worship centres
Okowa said that, following the report of the NEC ad-hoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, the NEC asked religious leaders not to hold services beyond 50% capacity of the church but to encourage multiple services.
He said that governors were urged to increase the number of testing in their various states.
“Other measures that the meeting asked governors to take to contain the spread of the virus included the enforcement of non- pharmaceutical interventions in public places; need for risk communication at stakeholders meetings and treatment protocols.
Governors were also asked to ensure that people must wear face masks at gatherings of not more than 50 persons and to enforce further collaborations between governors and law enforcement agencies
“Second lockdown of the economy would not be possible, as such there is need for increase stakeholders’ engagement to enforce compliance in other to reduce transmission,” Okowa stated.
Vaccines
According to Governor Okowa, Nigeria would receive 100,000 doses from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as the first doses, which would be administered to health workers and the elderly.
He said, “More of the vaccines of 40 million doses are expected to cover 20% of the population.
“This is to be available at the end of March or early April of 2021.
“All states are advised to provide oxygen generating plants to keep patients alive as the country is recording more deaths than in the past.
“Vaccination of the entire nation for up to 70% will take Nigeria up to 2022 according to National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).”
Okowa said that African Centre for Disease Control also plans to make available 10 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to Nigeria to be funded by the federal government.
He added that the Council also received an update on the state of performance on the Covid-19 by the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Confidence Okwuchi
