MINISTER OF HEALTH, Dr. OSAGIE EHANIRE CONFIRMS THAT ABOUT 40 HEALTH WORKERS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE TO COVID-19 AND LASSA FEVER

The Minister of Health, Dr.Osagie Ehanire has revealed that over 40 health workers have tested positive to COVID-19 in Nigeria.

He made the disclosure during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in Abuja.

As part of precautionary measures, the minister directed health workers to be watchful when treating any patient.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire also took his time to applaud health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying government would continue to provide them with the necessary personal protective equipment.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, said four health workers died as a result of COVID-19.

Rumours have it that the number of frontline health workers getting sick from COVID-19 is on the increase considering the pressure on health facilities amid scarcity of protective equipment.

Elsewhere, a situation report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that 37 health workers have been affected by Lassa fever this year.

Among them, six doctors have lost their lives to Lassa fever this year alone, according to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).