Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire says teenagers and young people under the age of 19 are responsible for 10 per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria.
Ehanire made the revelation in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19.
“With regard to COVID-19 and growing complacency, it is important to stress that, even though adults, especially those 60 years and above are more vulnerable, complications do occur in all age groups. Records show that 10 per cent of all positive cases we have treated are below the age of 19 years.
‘They are also the same mobile group that can be without symptoms but can easily spread the disease. Therefore, as schools begin to reopen in some areas, I urge caution and adherence to the protocols and advisories for reopening schools, in order join us to prevent COVID surge,” he said.
He also disclosed that the government has commenced the distribution of oxygen concentrators and ventilators to several health facilities as well as training of about 176 intensive care and biomedical health workers on their use in the hospitals.
While announcing that ventilators and training were sponsored by the United States, the minister commended aggrieved health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions for ending their industrial action.
He stressed that it was his utmost desire to work with them to resolve lingering challenges plaguing the health sector.
“COVID-19 is with us for the foreseeable future, as DG of WHO has advised, with no definitive cure in sight. People are still being infected and are dying from it.
“Some countries are imposing or considering new lockdowns or other restrictions because of the second wave. As we reopen our economy, it is time for us to take preventive measures even more seriously. I have directed all our hospitals to be alert and watch for an unusual increase in the number of persons reporting at our hospital as an emergency centre,” he said.
Ehanire equally addressed the issue of declining sample collection across the country, saying the trend was worrisome.
“It means that all states and local government areas must cooperate with NCDC by raising sample collection rate, using criteria listed, to increase testing to the desired rate and to report promptly; as we are still far from the target of two million tests. In this regard, we can support States with community volunteers for contact tracing, case finding and investigation.
“While stepping up surveillance and case finding, states can also ensure that suspected symptomatic COVID-19 cases are sent for treatment in time or supported before then with medical oxygen, to save lives and reduce fatalities.
“The recommended criteria for testing are persons who have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient or are associated with a cluster of persons of interest, those who have any of the four classical symptoms of fever, persistent cough, loss of sense of taste or smell and breathlessness; anyone facing surgery, as well as for any other compelling reason,” he stressed.
