The Presidential Task Force on Control of COVID-19 Thursday expressed concern over the rising cases of maternal and child mortality as a result of disrupted essential services.
Addressing journalists at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force in Abuja, the National Coordinator Dr Sani Aliyu said there has been a steady increase in the rate of maternal and child mortality in the country And it is worrisome.“We have been observing a steady rise in maternal and child mortality as a result of disrupted essential services. We have also seen life-saving, maternal, newborn and child, health services, routine vaccinations, access to care for chronic conditions such as HIV and other treatments not being delivered in our hospitals. We are also seeing diversion of certain products like second line HIV drugs for instance, antiretroviral drug for HIV treatment. We are asking Health institutions to make sure that they have proper assessment processes for people presenting with possible COVID, they must have holding areas and screening areas so that their staff can protect themselves and at the same time be able to deliver care.
“Hospitals are there to look after patients, hospitals are not there to turn patients back, people should not be allowed to suffer or die because of covid infection. We must not allow preventable death to occur in our communities simply because of covid or because we are afraid of it,” he said.
Dr Aliyu said Presidential Task Force would continue to ensure that health workers are protected. “As you’re aware, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the whole world has engaged in an unprecedented response against this virus and against the disease and quite rightly too. However, as a result of this we are seeing a situation where health services are not concentrating on other health conditions. If anything, the emergence of COVID-19 has led to the detriment in terms of care for other Essential Health Services and this negative impact included reduction in health services that could arise from disruptions in medical supply chains or the availability of human and financial resources.
“The PTF will continue to protect the health and safety of health workers both in the public as well as the private sector. We are appealing to the private sector facilities to make sure they have adequate PPE to protect their staff. “From the government side and from PTF we will continue to engage with the private sector to train them on infection control processes. But PPE will primarily be given to public hospitals and to other Frontline workers. “We expect the private facilities to make adequate arrangements for their own PPE. If they are having difficulty accessing this they should please get in touch with us and we can point them in the right direction.”
Aliyu urged Nigerians to learn to live with the new realities of COVID-19 especially as “we are still far off from the permanent solution to the pandemic such as the availability of a vaccine.“