By Moses Adeniyi
As the second wave of COVID-19 continues to experience higher number of confirmed cases testing positive daily, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed that an approved sum of N200million earmarked to support the ongoing patient management and treatment efforts of two Federal Government Treatment Centers in Lagos be disbursed today, Monday, February 1, 2021.
This is coming as the records of cases in Lagos State, the epicenter of the virus, is drawing close to possiblly hit 50,000 in a couple of weeks.
According to information gathered, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), will be receiving the sum of N150million, while the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, will be receiving N50million.
In his COVID-19 management update on Sunday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirming the development said: “In view of the rising profile of the coronavirus disease due to the mutating variants now being discovered globally; and to shore up our containment and management capacity, I have approved the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000) to support the ongoing patient management and treatment efforts of two Federal Government Treatment Centers in our state.
“To this end, LUTH will be receiving the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira and the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta will be receiving Fifty Million Naira. These sums will be disbursed on Monday, February 1.”
Statistics Lagos State has continued to be the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, since the index case was discovered in February 2020.
According to available statistics, as of the 29th of January 2021, Lagos State had recorded a total of 47,871 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Of the number, 34,094 have recovered in community, while 9,856 are currently active in community. Over the last 12 months, about 3,988 COVID-related patients have been admitted into the various care centres across the State; with a registered fatality rate of approximately 0.63% (301 deaths).
The test positivity ratio for January 2021 is 24%, which means that one out of every four tests returns positive. This is the highest monthly average recorded in the last six months.
Currently, Lagos State has 21 private and 4 public health laboratories accredited for Covid-19 testing. So far, a total of 316,801 samples have been tested, with 47,871 diagnosed as Positive.
Management measures
However, despite the cost involved in testing and the surge in the number of tests carried out daily, the State Government has maintained a free test policy.
In his update on Sunday, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated that: “It should be stressed that testing is free at all Lagos State public health laboratories, for all persons who fall within the case definition—that is, have symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, inability to smell or taste, headaches or general body weakness—or those who have come into close contact with anyone with any of these symptoms. Testing at our public health facilities will continue to remain free but cannot be used for travel purposes.
“Anyone wishing to test as a requirement for either outbound or inbound travel or other work-related requirements must do so at any of the 21 private laboratories accredited by Lagos State for COVID testing.”
Home-based care
On the home-based care strategies of the State Government, it would be recalled that the Government had established a telemedicine service, EKOTELEMED, for patients who are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that do not require admission, and can therefore be managed in the comfort of their homes.
EKOTELEMED is manned by well-trained medical personnel, and is available on a toll-free line, 08000EKOMED (08000356633). The State Government would like to encourage as many people as possible, whose cases fall in the asymptomatic or mild category, to take advantage of this service.
So far about 5,000 patients have been reached through EKOTELEMED, and more than a thousand care packs delivered to patients in the Home-based care program.
Oxygen demands
In his update on the provision for oxygen, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated that: “The Government wishes to reiterate that Oxygen is free at all Lagos State-owned Covid-19 Treatment Centers. The Lagos State Government does not charge for the use of Oxygen in its Centers.
“Considering that oxygen demand has spiked to between 300 and 400 cylinders per day across state-owned treatment facilities, the Government is working hard to ensure that availability and supply are very easily able to meet and even surpass this demand.”
Following the pressing need, it has been gathered that a second oxygen plant is under construction at the Gbagada General Hospital, and will come on-stream within the next seven days.
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, it is expected that this will boost the in-house capacity and availability of oxygen across all State Government managed treatment centers.
Ivermectin
On Ivermectin, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “The State Government is aware of numerous international claims that the broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent/medication Ivermectin has shown some efficacy in acting as a sustained prophylaxis in containing/inhibiting the causative virus in SARSýÿCoV-2.
“While this medication has not yet been approved for the broad treatment of the Coronavirus disease, the State Government has however taken the bold step of ensuring we have adequate stocks of Ivermectin, which will be initially deployed in a short clinical trial to ascertain its efficiency in our population to prevent and treat COVID-19 infection.”
Vaccines
On update regarding the issue of vaccines, the Governor said that the State Government is aware that the Federal Government is expecting its first batch of vaccines (Pfizer) from the Covax Facility in February, and that Lagos State’s status as the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria will be duly considered in the distribution plan.
He further disclosed that at the moment the State Government is finalizing its own vaccine strategy; while at the same time keeping a close eye on ongoing vaccine research, development and clinical trials.
“It is also in constant engagement with all the relevant stakeholders in that space, in the public and private sectors.
“As the vaccines become available in Lagos State they will be prioritized to the people who need them the most: frontline health workers, people with co-morbidities (medically vulnerable), the elderly (aged 65 and above, and subsequently, those aged between 50 and 65), and essential workers.
“While aligning with the national strategy for deployment of the vaccines, in these early days, Lagos State will also continue to scale up the capacity to flatten the infection curve, and to minimize the fatality rate, through testing and treatment,” he said.
The Governor added that the State also acknowledges its responsibility to ensure that: “Lagosians are protected from price-gouging and other forms of exploitation; The integrity of the vaccines is kept intact along the entire supply and distribution chain; Approved dosages are complied with; That a post vaccination adverse event monitoring strategy is followed diligently and according to normal protocols of pharmaceutical public safety.”
“These responsibilities will be faithfully discharged, for the safety and wellbeing of the people of Lagos State,” he assured.
New treatment option
On measures in keeping with governments responsibility as a public protector and in response to the growing clamour by patients and families who are willing to pay for COVID-19 treatment but would like to do so at a cost that is lower than is currently obtainable at private facilities, the Lagos State Government is making efforts to transform the State-owned Isolation Center in Gbagada into a fee-paying facility that people can elect to be treated at.
This means that while the Covid Treatment Facility in Yaba will continue to offer free and high-quality treatment to all persons, Gbagada will offer treatments at a moderated and affordable cost to those who wish to take advantage of extra offerings like private treatment rooms and more personalised levels of care.
Non-pharmaceutical interventions
On the significance of non-pharmaceutical measures, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions cannot be overemphasised, directing that “all residents of Lagos State must continue to abide by the public health and safety regulations that have been issued by the health authorities.”
The safety protocols include the Wearing of a mask everywhere; Ensuring the washing of re-usable mask regularly, and also proper disposal of used disposable masks; Following social distancing guidelines; Avoiding mass gatherings or adhering to published guidelines for congregations.
Others are; Practicing regular hand and respiratory hygiene; Getting tested in any occasion of experiencing the outlined symptoms of COVID-19; Self-isolation for those who have tested positive or reporting to any Isolation Centre and follow-up clinics.
Non-conformity to guidelines
Governor Sanwo-Olu lamented that the State Government had observed with dismay the widespread flagrant disregard and non-adherence to guidelines and protocols aimed at stemming and curbing the tide of infection.
“We particularly note that some event centers have been operating their premises outside the acceptable parameters for operation/usage and continue to be recalcitrant in this regard.
“This is to sound a very serious note of warning that henceforth all those found culpable and in breach of the existing regulations and guidelines would be swiftly and decisively dealt with in full accordance with the provisions of the law.
“Furthermore, and in line with the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 signed last week by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is hereby directed that no gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50% capacity of the space.
“A breach of the provisions of the Presidential Regulations attracts upon summary conviction, a fine or six months imprisonment and or both. Our enforcement agencies have been appropriately tasked to ensure maximum compliance.
He therefore enjoined all Lagosians “to continue to observe all laid down guidelines and protocols issued by both the state and federal governments for the effective containment and treatment of the novel corona virus disease.”
The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 had last week identified States where situations may demand another lockdown, should the increase in the number of infections persist uncontrollably.
The PTF National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Muhammed, had on Friday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, described the rising cases of COVID-19 infections recorded in three urban areas — the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and Plateau States — as disturbing.
According to him, available data from urban local governments in the affected States recorded the highest cases of the virus during the second wave in the country.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had last week signed an Executive Order making wearing of face-mask anywhere in Nigeria compulsory with a prescription of a six months jail term for flouting COVID-19 protocols. The order tagged “The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021” signed on the 26th January, 2021, had protocols bordering on Restrictions on Gatherings, Operations of Public Places, Mandatory Compliance with Treatment Protocols, Offences and Penalties, Interpretation and Citation, Enforcement and Application; all sequenced into 6 parts.