By Williams Anuku Abuja
Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has raised the alarm that there is a possibility of some Covid-19 survivors to suffer from psychiatric cases, especially after recovery.
Although he was not too specific on the issue, he confirmed that the development has prompted the PTF to intensify plans for in-country response under the treatment and post-treatment regimes, following research findings regarding the mental health of victims from around the world.
“The PTF is still very much concerned about the mental health of survivors of the COVID 19 virus. In this regard, the PTF is following reports from researches around the world regarding work dg the state of psychiatric health of survivors and has intensified plans for in-country response under the treatment and post-treatment regimes, “Boss stated.
While warning of the need for Nigerians to adhere to safety protocols, he said the number of cases has been fluctuating lately and that it was an indication that we are not out of the woods yet.
The PTF Boss also made allusions to recent discoveries in Lagos State where multiple infections were recorded in two schools, insisting that it was a typical example of the danger of reopening institutions without the required measures.
He said testing for the virus in Nigeria was abysmally low, stating that it stands at 3,605 per million persons.
”Let me use this opportunity to urge all Nigerians to come out for regular testing. Our testing rate is very unencouraging. Mauritius has the highest tests per million (218,535) while Nigeria stands at 3,605 per million. This is grossly too low to be at a comfortable stage of defeating the pandemic considering the size of our population, “he stated.
Boss also warned that Nigerians must weigh their options well before embarking on foreign trips, noting that the PTF was still monitoring situations around the World and will continue to raise the flag so that Nigerians pay adequate attention to the rising number of cases, especially in high burden countries.
He said, “The candid advice of the PTF still remains that non-essential trips should be totally avoided”.
He revealed that the Global cases crossed the 52 million mark with USA, India and Brazil accounting for 48% of all global cumulative burden.
He said the USA has been recording over 100,000 cases daily in recent times and the rate of fatalities is increasing in the UK and other European Countries. 5 Countries (USA, Brazil, India, Mexico and UK) account for 53 per cent (685,176) of global deaths.
On the African Continent, he said Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia reported the highest cases in the last 24 hours. While South Africa now accounts for 38% of total cases on the continent, up from 50% as at September.
“Nigeria now ranks 6th down in Africa and we don’t have to let our guards down for a second wave”.
Sounding a note of warning, the PTF urged Nigerians to take responsibility to keep our nation safe by adhering to all COVID-19 preventive measures.
“It is our collective responsibility. We must all rally round each other to stop this pandemic from destroying our lives and economy.
“The PTF believes strongly that now is the time to raise the tempo of not just our national response but also our preparedness for a new wave of the pandemic or any other epidemic for that matter. For example, it has been strongly observed that places of worship, gatherings and other events have dumped the use of face masks and adherence to other NPIs.
“This afternoon, we received the report of the demise of the former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings. We commiserate with the President, Government and people of our sister country and pray for the repose of his soul. Similarly, on the 10th of November, 2020, COVID took another high-profile victim in the person of Saeb Erakat, PLO Chief Negotiator. We also commiserate with the Palestinian Authority on this great loss. This will no doubt have a tremendous impact on the peace process in the Middle-East.
“Let me use this opportunity to as always, thank all our development partners, the CACOVID and the media. Without your support, this effort would not have travelled far, “the PTF Chairman stated at the weekly briefing of the Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, on Thursday.”