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COVID-19: Nigeria takes delivery of 26 ventilators, other items from WHO

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health (middle) and Dr. Walter Kazadi, WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria

*Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister for Health, assures Nigerians that the Federal Government will keep an inventory of the ventilators, and other items donated would be properly utilised

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The continued battle against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria is reportedly receiving a boost, as the Federal Government has received 26 ventilators and other medical equipment from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The country received 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse oximeters as authorities step up efforts at curbing the spread of the disease in the period of a third wave.

It was gathered Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, received the donated items on behalf of the Federal Government Thursday, August 5, 2021, in Abuja, FCT.

Speaking while receiving the items from Dr. Walter Kazadi, WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria, the Minister said: “We thank you and appreciate these additional assets as we have to deal with the fears of the third wave of COVID-19.”

The Federal Government delivered the medical equipment same day the country  recorded its highest daily infections in six months, continued strike by resident doctors, and growing concerns about widespread protocol violations by citizens in the country.

He stated: “Ventilators are becoming very useful, especially for early response in the period of COVID-19, and even after COVID-19, they will remain assets all over the country.”

Thus far, the West African country has received donations from some global organisations and foreign countries in its fight against the pandemic – from vaccines to ventilators.

Dr. Ehanire promised that the Federal Government would keep an inventory of the ventilators and assured Nigerian consumers that the items donated would be properly utilised.

In his response on the occasion, Dr. Kazadi said that he believes Nigeria has performed relatively well in containing the first and second waves of the damaging pandemic.

The WHO Country Representative said that with the country now battling the third wave of the pandemic, he expects it to achieve success in flattening the curve.

The WHO is also ready to play its part, said he.

Dr. Kazadi stated: “It is against this backdrop we wish to demonstrate our continued support of the ministry’s efforts in further strengthening the country’s capacity in case management.”

ConsumerConnect reports Nigeria recorded 747 COVID-19 infections in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wednesday, August 4.

The figure is said to be the highest in almost six months since February 19 when the nation recorded 1,492 cases – data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed.

Four new deaths were also reported, raising the country’s toll from the disease to 2,167 with 165,208 discharged cases out of a total of 176,011 confirmed infections.

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