For The Records: PTF Chairman Speech At Virtual Handover Of COVID-19 Response Materials Donated By NSIA Health Institutions
SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION/CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-19, MR BOSS MUSTAPHA AT THE VIRTUAL HANDOVER CEREMONY OF COVID-19 RESPONSE MATERIALS DONATED BY THE NSIA TO NATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS ON THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY, 2021
PROTOCOLS
It gives me great pleasure to join this virtual presentation ceremony of critical care equipment to Federal Tertiary Heal Institutions by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority(NSIA).
2. The PTF was established by His Excellency,Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and was inaugurated on 17th March, 2020 in response to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. In the last one year the, humanity and the entire world has been under the siege of the most significant public health emergency of our life time. As at Wednesday, 27th January, 2021 the number of global infections had crossed the 100,-million mark. Similarly, the number of fatalities had crossed the two-million mark.
4. The pandemic has disrupted ecomies, decimated populations, killed loved ones, friends and colleagues, upturned governance and democratic systems, disrupted hitherto well established health systems and much more.
5. The PTF was set up as a multisectoral response to the Pandemic in order to achieve maximum positive results while balancing lives and livelihood. The specific mandate of the Presidential Task Force was to oversee and coordinate Nigeria’s response in order to effectively control and flatten the curve of infection. By extension, Nigeria through Mr. President also assumed the leadership in the ECOWAS sub-Region with his appointment as the Champion for the response to the pandemic. This gave added responsibility.
6. The PTF has taken several several stringent measures were taken to combat the virus and to keep the numbers low. Some of the measures put in place include:
a. The banning of mass gatherings and religious activities
b. The nationwide closure of schools
c. The banning of domestic and international flights
d. The institution of a nationwide overnight curfew;
e. Introduction of nationwide lockdown; and
f. Mandating the wearing of face masks in public
7. The Government and the PTF were not unmindful of the burden these measures brought upon Nigerians and therefore began to gradually ease them to further balance lives and livelihood. Suffice it to say that lack of compliance and with the non-pharmaceutical measures and the emergence of the second wave of infections which has proved to be more deadly have commelled the government to issue the new COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation 2021 which was signed by Mr. President.
8. In order to fully understand the signicance of the donation of critical care equipment by the NSIA, I consider it necessary to inform you that as a matter of policy and dtermnination, Mr. President directed the PTF to ensure that our health systems should be straightened to overcome this pandemic, withstand future outbreaks and serve Nigerians satisfactory. The enhancement of our potentials for attracting investment of the health tourism sector is one of the key objectives.
9. Since its inception, the PTF has prioritized Case Management as key to the our success. In this regard, ICUs and well equipped treatment Centres have been constructed as legacy infrastructure, with the support of the organized private sector, international funding and public sector funding. I am pleased to also inform you that the Federal Government has rehabilitated oxygen plants in various health institutions and is in the process of constructing one each in the States of the federation to combat the shortage of oxygen much needed by patients that require critical care.
10. Despite of the successes recorded before the second wave, I wish to emphasise that the PTF will never rest on its oars. We recognize that our nation is still at war against this pervasive invisible enemy. We must all remain vigilant and cooperate with the Authorities to ensure life is preserved and the virus is prevented from spreading.
11. It is against this backdrop that we are delighted that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority has stepped up to deepen its involvement in the fight particularly at this time. The contribution of oxygen concentrators and patient monitors, to the 21 most affected teaching hospitals, across the six geo-political zones of the country is indeed a welcome development and could not have come at a better time.
12. Oxygen concentrators are useful for artificially increasing the percentage of oxygen in the air, thereby supporting the recovery of patients with mild cases of Covid-19, prior to the worsening of the case.
13. NSIA’s intervention in this regard comes at a critical time in the fight against the virus and consequently must be lauded. The current Administration has and will continue to put in place measures, both economic and social, to ease the burden of the pandemic on Nigerians. But every citizen or guest in our country must commit to creating a covid-free environment. We cannot stop the spread of the virus if we fail to take responsibility for our behavior.
14. To those still in doubt. I say, Covid-19 is real, please wash your hands regularly, wear a mask, avoid social gatherings, and maintain the required social distance from people. Get help if you feel you may have been exposed to the virus. It is best never to visit the ICU as a patient.
15. Distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, in closing, I want to, as always, thank all our frontline workers. I want to thank the countless doctors and nurses working to help in nursing the infected to recovery. I also want to convey our thanks to the Board and management of the NSIA for this gesture. I urge you to remain vigilant as we pursue our ultimate goal of eradicating the virus from our beloved country.
16. Let us all join this fight.
17. I thank you for listening .