By Jamila Musa
In Abuja, after a frightening spike in the number of people affected and killed by the COVID-19 virus all over the world, and the declaration by the WHO that the epidemic is a global catastrophe, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Musa Mohammed Bello quickly introduced pro-actively a number of measures to check the spread of the virus and save the lives of the people.
Based on the advice and guidance of public health authorities,the meeting of the national economic council N.E.C.,the presidential task force on the control of the novel corona virus epidemic, the FCT authorities led by the minister held an emergency meeting that also included traditional and religious leaders and reached the following conclusions:
A. Religious leaders and worshippers were enjoined to follow all laid down protocols as stipulated by all relevant health authorities for the control of the spread of the corona virus epidemics.
B.Congregations at places of worships in Abuja were hereby restricted to a maximum of 50 at any given time.
C.This measures also applies to gatherings of social events at events centres, football viewing centres and marriage and burial ceremonies etc.
D.The essence of this restrictions is to make the tracking of affected persons,if any,easier in the FCT for health authorities.
E.Residents were also adviced not to be involved in panic buying and to seek for informations about the corona virus from public health officials from time to time.
With this first step approach in the fight against the spread of the corona virus and its mitigation in the territtory,the minister was thus armed with the tool to monitor the situation in Abuja and this proactive measures and actions of the minister is highly commendable.
While agreeing that Abuja is relatively seen as a relatively low risk area in the spread of the novel corona virus,as just few case of affected persons have been reported, this proactive measures became neccessary because the world health organisation have declared the epidemic an emergency of international concern and Abuja is a part of the global community.
The minister knowing fully well that the safety and well being of residents are of paramount concern and responsibility of his took those pro-active steps to help ensure that we have a plan of actions in place to address a possible outbreak of the CD-19 epidemic in abuja.The minister has also established a team that would help him in the implementations of the action plans.
The minister is working closely with health experts and relevant health authorities in the territtory with the presidential task force on the control of the corona virus set up by the president,Mohammadu Buhari to contain any possible outbreak in Abuja.The minister made sure that nurses and experts are on standby twenty four hours of the day for possible diagnosis and treatments,if any.
To also minimize the spread of the virus or epidemic,the minister has ordered that proactive steps must be undertaken by the health authorities in the territtory to ensure protection and assistance,while also ensuring that all neccessary plans of action are drawn up and in place and the preventive measures.
Experts have been put on alert,and dedicated staff would take responsibilities for initial diagnosis of possible infections.
All relevant authorities in abuja will strictly follow the evolving case defination as supplied by the national centre for disease contrnl NCDC and the presidential task force on the control of the corona virus epidemics,whether an interview with the resident who presents himself with the sympthoms will be conducted.
Public enlightenment committees have been created to remind residents of Abuja that while there is no vaccine to prevent the COVID-19,there are preventive measures to be taken to avoid contacting the virus.
Such preventive measures includes:
-Washing of hands often with water and soap for at least 20seconds.
-Avoiding the touching of your mouth,nose and eyes with unwashed hands.
-Avoid contacts with people who are sick.
-Staying at home when you are sick and immediately calling a medical professional.
-Covering of the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a tissue and throwing the tissue into a trash immediately after.
-Clean and disinfecting often touched objects or surfaces.
: The public enlightenment committee set up by the minister have been educating residents on how to avoid being a victim of the CD-19 VIRUS by proactively teaching them the following:
A.You would know if you have contacted the CD-19VIRUS if you notice or experience a sudden onset of fever of 38 degree and above.
B.In addition,you would experience one or more of the following symptoms
-Cough.
-Fever
-Difficulty breathing.
Finally,every residents of Abuja who intends travelling to other states in Nigeria or abroad are adviced that they must take every precautionary steps to avoid exposures to the virus.If at any stage,any resident of abuja feels he has been exposed to the virus,he must as a responsibility,quarantine himself and immediately invite a medical doctor.We are therefore commending the minister of the FCT.for the proactive measures which have gone a long way in making abuja residents safe.
Jamila Musa, Abuja
