As government equips health workers with protective equipment against Covid-19…

In continuation of efforts towards ensuring that it contains the further spread of Covid-19, the federal government in collaboration with NCDC and other partners are equipping health workers all over the country with protective equipment. ELEOJO IDACHABA reports.

As part of the continued response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Ministry of Health through its agencies, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has begun the implementation of a massive distribution of personal protective equipment otherwise known as PPE to health workers in primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the country. The move is also supported by health sector partners like Gavi, Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF. 


In Nigeria, PHCs are critical as they often serve as the first point of contact for suspected cases of COVID-19. To that extent, health workers in PHCs continue to play very important role in the response by supporting the detection of cases, educating members of the community about the risks of the virus as well as other health and social services. 


According to a statement by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and signed by its director general Dr Chike Ihiekwazu, “The federal government and its partners recognise the need for ensuring continuity of health services, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of the risks health workers face in providing care to patients, these PPE are being provided to ensure that they are properly protected in the line of duty.”
The statement stated further that, “As part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, the Federal Ministry of Health continues to prioritise infection prevention and control (IPC) of healthcare workers through training, provision of information materials and protective equipment. 


“The PPE provided to health workers in PHCs are to ensure that they have the required resources to protect themselves and their patients from the risk of spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.”Blueprint learnt that items being distributed include thousands of goggles, masks, gloves, gowns, boots, waste bins, hand sanitizers, chlorine and other commodities to be distributed to selected PHCs across all 774 local government areas in the country.


It said, “The federal government remains grateful to its partners, especially Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF or the collaboration in ensuring the protection of health workers.
“The Federal Ministry of Health through its agencies remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of all Nigerians. As the NPHCDA continues to scale up Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage, health workers are reminded of the need to practice universal care precautions at all times.
“Additionally, we urge members of the public to adhere strictly to COVID-19 measures including wearing of face masks properly – covering nose and mouth, regular handwashing, avoiding large crowds, practicing physical distancing of at least two (2) metres and getting vaccinated, if eligible.”NPHCDA was established in 1992 and merged with the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in 2007. It is the domestic development agency for Primary health care in Nigeria. Between 1986 and 1992, remarkable and innovative progress was made in the development of Primary Health Care, focusing on the local government areas (LGAs), resulting in Nigeria being placed in the front rank of countries in the world that have advanced the process of equitably improving the health and quality of life of its people through primary healthcare.”