FCT MInister, Muhammad Musa BelloThe minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello is not happy with the report that some people tested positive for coronavirus are refusing to go to isolation and treatment centres but prefer to remain in their houses, threatening to invoke the relevant laws that enables it to mandatorily for such people to be evacuated to designed centres.
A statement today, April 23, by the Chief Press Secretary in the FCTA, Anthony Ogunleye, said: “following the submission by the Response Team that some Covid-19 positive individuals were refusing to go to treatment centers and instead preferred to treat themselves in their homes, the FCT Minister expressed dissatisfaction with this development and said existing laws will be used to force such persons to go to treatment centers explaining that their staying at home posed great risks not just to their families but also immediate communities.”
He quoted the minister as saying:”since we have begun to witness community transmission of the virus, it is imperative that we must do everything within our power to stop the spread even if we have to compel such persons to go to treatment centers.”
The statement said that it was resolved at a meeting of the FCT COVID-19 Emergency Response Team and the FCTA Management, that in order to prevent further spread of the virus within the communities, massive testing will be carried out in areas where community transmission has been established, including Mabushi, Gishiri and Utako.
It said that the Response Team also encouraged all residents to wear face masks when outside in the public and also encouraged them to make their own face masks from cloth and wear them always.
The meeting, the statement said, also reviewed the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT and the measures taken to contain it. So far, a total of 263 staff made up of 66 doctors, 103 nurses, 9 pharmacists, 15 laboratory scientists and 70 other staff have been trained while 337 others are slated for training which is on-going in batches.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa the Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu, the Director of Public Health, Dr Josephine Okechukwu, heads of the various sub committees of the Response Team and other senior Staff of the Administration.
