The Nasarawa State government has discharged 19 coronavirus (COVID-19) patients out of the 32 positive cases recorded in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed this on Monday at a briefing with journalists shortly after inspecting the ongoing work at the Infectious Diseases Control and Diagnostic Centre in Lafia, the state capital.
He noted that the 19 patients tested negative after receiving treatment and have been discharged, adding that the state now has 12 COVID-19 active cases and one death.
The governor was delighted that although the government has set up several isolation centres across the state, there were no patients at the facilities.
He said, “We have been very lucky, we have a total of 32 cases. As at this morning (Monday), we have had one death and 19 (recovered patients) that have already been discharged.
“They have turned negative again and they have been discharged. Of the 32 cases, we only have 12 active cases.”
On the progress of work at the centre, Governor Sule revealed that the first phase of the project – the physical structure of the facility – was at 95 per cent completion.
According to him, the government is rushing to complete the project in order to adequately prepare for future emergencies, in terms of mitigating the outbreak of infectious diseases such as Lassa Fever, Ebola, and other viruses that may surface in the future.
The governor explained that the second phase of the project – equipping the facility – would be capital intensive but his administration was committed to completing the project.
“The second phase, which is more important and actually more economically demanding, is the aspect of equipment and we are working on that at the moment.
“It will require a lot of investment in the area of research, testing, and various laboratories,” he added.
Governor Sule noted that the centre would operate in synergy with the Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital and the State School of Nursing, all located within the vicinity of the facility.
He said, “There is going to be synergy between the three institutions around. There will also be lots of collaboration, especially with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“We have been talking to them (NCDC), with the Federal Ministry of Health and the State Ministry of Health, as well as all the other major hospitals that we have around, including our PHC unit.”
Source: Channelstv
