News
COVID-19: UPTH Set To Tackle Pandemic In N’Delta, CMD Assures
The management of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) says the hospital is ready to tackle any atom of suspected Coronavirus in Rivers State and across the Niger Delta region.
This is as the hospital insisted that there was no case of the pandemic in the state even as the hospital has not recorded any patient with such virus.
“There is no single confirmed case of Coronavirus in Rivers State, even in UPTH complex”, the Chief Medical Director, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma, said.
Briefing newsmen at the hospital complex over the weekend, the CMD, said COVID-19 had hit over 125 countries and had been declared as a pandemic to the lives of humans across the globe.
Represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof Princewill Stanley, Ugboma said only two confirmed cases of the virus were recorded in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states.
He noted that UPTH was competent and capable to tackle the scourge, if reported, even as he said the hospital has enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the hospital.
The hospital, CMD said, was in strong collaboration with the Rivers State Government to tackle the menace, if any outbreak, as it had competent team of experts to tackle the virus.
“In Rivers State, we have taken a very strong leadership role by carrying out training. UPTH has benefited a lot, and there has been heightened state of readiness on the pandemic”, the CMD said.
“We have heightened our readiness to tackle the pandemic in the state, we have the competence and capacity to tackle the scourge,” he said.
Ugboma, who debunked claims that a suspected patient with the virus reported to the hospital for treatment, said, such information, was false, as UPTH did not attend to any of such case as speculated.
He admonished Nigerians to practice safe hygiene and maintain regular hand washing to reduce the possible contraction of the virus through person-to-person.
The CMD said the hospital had created 23 hand washing points in the clinics and wards for staff and patients to curb cross infection.
“We are practicing safe hygienic conduct in UPTH, we are also making hygienic hand washing compulsory as we have created over 23 hand washing points in the hospital”, Ugboma said.
He added, “We have posters containing steps on how to minimise the scourge, we also have some PPE in our hospital to tackle the virus”.
He advised Nigerians to keep a distance from persons coughing or sneezing to avoid any possible contraction of the virus.
However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced a suspected case of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Enugu State.
This was disclosed via its official Twitter handle: @ncdcgov, yesterday.
The centre stated that the suspected person had been isolated and sample collected for further verification.
It added that the result of the medical test would be out by today.
The statement on the Twitter handle reads: “Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is aware of the patient in Enugu, suspected to have #COVID19.
“This is one of several alerts received daily at the National #COVID19 Emergency Operations Centre.
“The patient is in isolation, sample collected and results expected tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has also confirmed the suspected case, but assured residents that the state’s Ministry of Health was on top of the situation.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Chidi Aroh, told newsmen that the ministry’s officials were able to detect the case due to its high surveillance of health security.
Aroh said the ministry had earlier issued a statement on the suspected case after reporting the situation to the NCDC.
The commissioner appealed to residents to remain calm as the suspect was being closely monitored.
Chinedu Wosu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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