NCDC May Treat Fresh COVID-19 Patients in Their Homes
*As NCDC records 204 new cases with Kano leading with 80
*FG approaches hotels to make facilities available
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Thursday gave an indication of a possible treatment of fresh cases of COVID-19 patients in their private homes as a solution to the current problem of spaces for the rising number of cases.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this could be the next strategy if the number of patients rises above the agency’s provision of 3,500-bed spaces that had been provided.
Ihekweazu said that with the rising cases, its bed spaces capacity in Lagos is being stretched, adding that the alternative could be to send health workers to treat patients in their homes.
“We are struggling in some places, especially Lagos and to an extent in Kano and Abuja too. But the biggest challenge right now is Lagos where bed spaces are really tight.
“We are now trying to make more bed spaces available, but ultimately we might have to change our strategy and start considering homecare in certain circumstances where patients are able to provide rooms for their own management.
“Secondly, we will also have to support their care by enabling healthcare workers, who would go and treat them. Because of the realities we face, we might have to adjust our strategy in the next few days or weeks.”
Meanwhile, the NCDC said 204 cases were recorded as at Thursday night with Kano leading with 80 followed by Lagos with 45.
Other states were Gombe 12, Sokoto 9, Bauchi 9, Edo 7, Borno 7, Rivers 6, Ogun 6, FCT 4, Akwa Ibom 4, Bayelsa 4, Kaduna 3, Oyo 2, Delta 2, Nasarawa 2, Ondo ` and Kebbi 1.
So far the total number of cases is 1,932, 319 discharged and 58 dead.
The federal government is appealing to owners of hotels and recreation centres to provide them as spaces for the treatment of patients.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said there was the need for hotel owners to help in providing the facilities for temporary use.
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