Coronavirus: FG releases N386m to fight outbreak
- The federal government is taking the fight against the possible outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria seriously
- The presidency in response to urgent official calls has approved the release of N71 million to the ministry of health to prevent the spread of the disease into the country
- Moreover, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also been given the sum of N315 million for the same purpose
The ministry of health has confirmed the receipt of the sum of N71 million from the federal government in the fight against the outbreak of the global epidemic, Covid-19, hitherto called coronavirus.
Abdullahi Mashi, the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of health, speaking on the development in Abuja on Friday, February 21, said that for the same purpose, the sum of N315 million has been released to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), The Nation reports.
Mashi said that the fund was forwarded directly to port health services sector of the ministry for better surveillance mechanism at the ports of entry into the country.
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He said: “Intervention requests were made to the Presidency and because of the level of emergency, the Ministry of Finance consented to the request.
"I can confirm to you that N71m was released to the port health services division of the ministry. Also, NCDC have been given N315m. Another request is still in the pipeline.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Chinese officials had disclosed that no Nigerian resident in China had contracted the coronavirus.
The disclosure was made on Thursday, February 20, by the Chinese government in its daily official newsletter on the status of the disease.
The Chinese government stated that 29 foreigners have been infected with the disease out of which 18 have been cured. It said no Nigerian was among the infected foreigners.
The government further disclosed that two foreigners dead and nine are still under quarantine and treatment.
In a similar post by Legit.ng, the federal government had given the assurance that if and when the need arises, Nigerians especially those located in Wuhan would be evacuated.
This was disclosed by Nigeria's minister of state for health, Dr Olorunibe Mamora, on Monday, February 17, in Abuja, during a press briefing.
Mamora went to note that the health of Nigerian nationals in China is being monitored through the Ambassador in China. According to the minister of state for health, the urgency of the current situation regarding coronavirus has been greatly emphasized.
Mamora added that after the meeting ministers held in Mali, they agreed to strengthen coordination, communication, and collaboration in preparedness for the epidemic.
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Coronavirus: No Nigerian has been infected - Chinese Ambassador | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
