WHO moves to fight COVID-19 outbreak in the restive state of Nigeria

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are moving fast to help Borno, the restive northeastern state of Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19.
The action became necessary after confirmation of the State’s first case of COVID-19.
Collins Owili, WHO’s northeastern emergency manager, said in a statement on Thursday that the initiative would help the state detect, monitor and treat cases of COVID-19 in order to avoid and contain the further spread of the disease. Owili added that prior to the COVID-19 index case in Borno, the health organization offered technical assistance to health authorities in the Borno states.

Among other preparations for responding to confirmed cases, technical support includes active surveillance, risk communication, contact tracing and logistics.
“With WHO technical support, the infection, prevention and control teams are currently decontaminating health facilities where the Borno state index case was admitted,” added Owili.
Borno state is at the center of a humanitarian crisis in northeastern Nigeria where a large number of people have been displaced by the Boko Haram terrorist group’s over-a-decade violent uprising.

The state on Monday confirmed its first coronavirus infection, and aid workers fear the virus could prove devastating if it spreads inside the crowded camps holding hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

pm news