Military confirms index case of Coronavirus

THE Nigerian Military has confirmed the first coronavirus index case in the Armed Forces, the index case a military officer who recently returned from a foreign assignment, has been admitted at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, confirmed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, he said the military will unveil 17 isolation treatment centres across the country for the treatment of the dreaded virus.

He said Armed Forces will enforce the restriction on movement as contained in the Presidential order.

He listed the isolation and treatment centres to include; the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, 2 Division Hospital Ibadan, Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar and the Military Hospital, Benin.

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Others were the 211 Regiment Group Medical Centre, Owerri. 82 Division Military Hospital, Enugu, 161 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi, 22 Brigade Medical Centre, Ilorin. 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, 465 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kano and the 263 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura.

Also listed were 119 Composite Group Medical Centre, Sokoto, 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Bauchi, 163 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Yola, 7 Division Military Hospital, Maiduguri and 27 Task Force Brigade Field Ambulance, Damaturu.

According to Enenche, “A Committee headed by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major General Leo Irabor, is in place interfacing with all relevant Ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria managing the COVID- 19 pandemic.

“As mentioned in my first briefing regarding COVID-19, there are 17 isolation and treatment centres earmarked which are spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Further to this, a good number of Armed Forces of Nigerian medical personnel have been earmarked to be trained on the management of COVID 19 cases, which will be done in liaison with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)”.

He continued that, “in the same vein, about 48 Disaster Response Units of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are on Notice To Move in conjunction with NEMA. These units will handle operations other than medicals that may arise in the course of this non-kinetic military operation.

“Finally, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is to implement all restriction on movement in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria. For the avoidance of doubt this include the Presidential Directive given by the President Commander In Chief, during his address to the Nation on the COVID 19 Pandemic, on 29 March 2020.