The World Health Organisation has donated 26 ventilators and 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse oximeters to Nigeria for the management of patients in Isolation and treatment facilities and home based patients’ monitoring in the country.
The items were presented by the WHO country representative, Walter Kazadi Molumbo to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja
Dr Molumbo said that with the COVID-19 outbreak, reaching a stage with increasing numbers in the country, and around the globe, it is imperative to have a strong response in all pillars.
He said Nigeria has done relatively well in terms of timely containment of the Last two wave of the virus by maintaining a national case fatality rate of 1.3%, a level that is half the regional average.
He said and with the attack of the 3rd wave now upon the country, the expectations from all is not any less, hence the reason for the donation by WHO as a way of extending its support to the country in the fight against the pandemic.
“Since the first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria on February 27th, 2020, Nigeria has passed through the stages of having of sporadic cases, clusters of cases and community transmission.” Dr Molumbo said.
“With the COVID-19 outbreak reaching a stage with increasing numbers in the country, and around the globe, it is imperative to have a strong response in all pillars. As of the beginning of August 2021, about 15 months into the outbreak, Nigeria reached 175,264 confirmed cases, the majority (over 94%) of whom had been successfully treated and discharged. Unfortunately, 2,163 died.Thus, Nigeria has performed relatively well in terms of timely containing each of the last 2 waves and maintaining a national case fatality rate of 1.3%, a level that is half the regional average.
“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 of in further strengthening the country’s capacity in case management.
“This is in addition our ongoing support across all pillars of the country’s COVID-19 response to at Federal and State level.
“To this end, we wish to donate 26 ventilators and 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse oximeters for the management of patients in Isolation and treatment facilities as well as Home based patients’ monitoring,” he said.
The WHO boss also gave the Organisation’s assurance that the donation will compliment the notable initiatives that the Government of Nigeria is implementing coupled with the support from other partners, in the fight 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 required treatment than what was registered at the peak of the 2nd wave.
Sr. Molumbo disclosed that WHO is always ready to support the Government of Nigeria in protecting the lives and wellbeing of the citizens of this great nation, he added that the donation was made possible through WHO’s emergency resources at Global Level.
The Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire thanked WHO for their thoughtful gesture while he gave the assurance that the donated items will be utilised accordingly.
He says he appreciate the additional assets that we have to deal with out of fear of third wave of covid-19, adding that ventilators have always become very useful.
