With the ongoing distribution of ventilators and oxygen concentrators to various health institutions in the country, the Federal Government has begun the training of about one hundred and seventy-nine intensive care specialists and biomedical engineers who will be in charge of the devices.
This was made known by Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, during the press briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 which held in Abuja yesterday. According to the Minister, the ventilators and training are courtesy of the United States Government to complement what the country already has.
Earlier last month, the United States Government had through its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, donated two hundred ventilators which was marked “life-saving equipment” to aid Nigeria in her fight against the novel coronavirus scourge.
This donation by the US government was in fulfillment of the commitment made by Presidents Donald Trump and Muhammadu Buhari earlier this year. It also included the training on the use and maintenance of the equipment, such that even when the virus disappears, it could still be used to address other respiratory illnesses.
In terms of the number of cases identified in the country, Dr. Ehanire disclosed that Nigeria, as at September 21st,2020 has a record of 57,242 COVID-19 positive cases out of 479,628 samples tested, with 48,569 patients treated and discharged from hospital, while 1098 citizens have died owing to the effect of the disease.
Furthermore, he maintained that although there seems to be a fall in the number of COVID-19 cases as well as mortalities, there was a need for restraint so as to prevent a possible spike that is currently making waves in the media.
InlandTown! 2020
