PTF Deploys Three Ventilators, Other Equipment To Fight COVID-19 In Kano

The Federal Government says it is committed to curbing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kano State.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, stated this in his opening remarks at Thursday’s briefing in Abuja.

He believes Kano is one of Nigeria’s historical cities and remains a backbone for the economy of the nation.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted some of the measures put in place by the task force to address the situation in Kano.

He said, “The Presidential Task Force has released a number of equipment to be transported immediately to Kano to beef up the response.

“These include two oxygen concentrate and three ventilators, 280 protective gowns, 538 examination gloves, 25 boot covers, medical masks, surgical caps, and infrared thermometers.”

The figure of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to rise in Kano with five deaths from 139 infections as of 12:05am on April 30.

The PTF chairman, however, assured the residents that the team would do everything possible to curb the spread of the disease in the state, as directed by the President.

He noted that the government has already established isolation and treatment centres with a holding capacity of 274 persons in Kano.

According to Mustapha, the proposed establishment of additional facilities with a capacity of 500 persons and two sample collection centres along with six new proposed centres will provide a strong foundation for tackling the spread of the virus in the state.

He also revealed that the Nigerian Military, under its COVID-19 response plan, would establish an additional isolation centre, a treatment facility, and a testing laboratory in Kano.

“The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in the immediate, will further strengthen Kano State to scale up its response with the provision of necessary facilities and equipment, capacity building, improving stakeholder interface and guidance on existing policies … against the fight on the pandemic in the state.

“Already the testing laboratories in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the Bayero University, Kano have become fully functional,” the SGF stated.

He was confident that the lockdown directed by President Muhammadu Buhari would be effective in slowing down the spread as they continue to test, detect, isolate, contact, trace, and manage COVID-19 cases.

The task force chairman gave an assurance that the ongoing investigation into the causes of the recently reported high number of deaths in Kano would be pursued to a logical conclusion.