Health
We Need N1.6B Emergency Fund To Fight Coronavirus- NCDC
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed about N1.6billion emergency funding is needed to strengthen Coronavirus (COVID19) response activities.
The Deputy Director in charge of Special Duties, Dr. Pricilla Ibekwe, noted this yesterday at a press conference presided over by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, she said the emergency fund, if provided, would be used to contain the spread of the virus in the country.
Dr. Pricilla Ibekwe said the fund would also support facilities to help prevent, assess and respond to health events at Point of Entry and to ensure National Health Security in the country.
She opined her delight on intervention by the Aliko Dangote Foundation that had pledged of N200 million to support the government towards curbing the spread of virus in the country.
“So far, what Nigeria has gotten were strictly domestic funding. Some of the assistance we get from donors are in form of policy advice, technical assistance, while some of them build on existing instruments and expertise to help the country respond to the virus,” she said.
Ibekwe further explained that the NCDC was in talks with local and international partners to get the needed funding, adding that the money gathered so far was being utilised to scale up responses.
She, however, urged the private sector and other philanthropists to support government’s efforts in strengthening preparedness and responses to COVID-19.
She said: “Businesses are only as strong as the communities they are a part.
“Private organisations need to figure out how to support coronavirus response efforts by providing money, equipment, or expertise.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, we are truly all in this together.
“The work of public health is everyone’s business and it requires all citizens to get involved in the fight.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said out of the 148 passengers on the manifest of the index case flight, 55 are actively being observed, adding that the NCDC and Port Health Services were in touch with them to monitor their temperatures and possible appearance of COVID- 9 symptoms.
Government said it was reaching out to others and urged any passenger of the said Turkish Airlines flight to Lagos on February 24 to contact it on 08009700001-10.
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