Nigerian government has budgeted 620m to tackle coronavirus – Health Minister
- Earmarks 620million for the fight against coronavirus
- Released 313 million to curb Lassa fever
The Nigerian government will spend N620m to monitor, detect and contain the deadly Coronavirus.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health.
According to him, the fund would come directly from the service-wide vote.
He stated that the move was in a bid to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the country and further protect its citizens.
Ehanire further disclosed that government promptly released the sum of N313m to combat Lassa Fever and prevent an outbreak.
The Minister was in the Senate in company with the Director, Port Health Services, Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh, and the Director-General National Centre for Disease Control.
Enahire said already, N71m was released to the port health services for its operations.
Ehanire said the ministry had a multi-stakeholder meeting to deploy port health services there to screen all passengers.
Meanwhile, the Senate expressed concerns over the non-screening of the Chattered flight passengers wing of the local flight arrivals at the airports.
The senators expressed fears that it may be a loose end to import the Coronavirus into the country.
Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, a Senator representing Kwara Central, said the absence of health services at the private terminal could make for easy movement of infected bodies into the country.
The Senate thereafter ordered the minister to commence the screening of all passengers saying coronavirus was both a national and international emergency and must be treated as such.
According to the Spectator Index, the death toll of Coronavirus is now 632 and thousands have been infected. Many countries across the world have banned their citizens from traveling to China for the now.
Sahara Reporters
Punch
