The presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 says poverty
has contributed to the success in Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19.
Nigeria confirmed its first case of the coronavirus on
February 27, 2020, and as of September 15, while more than 50,000 infections
have been recorded, over 40,000 patients have recovered.
Appearing before the joint senate committee on health and
aviation on Tuesday, Sani Aliyu, PTF national coordinator, said the demography
of African countries such as Nigeria, and the “aggressive” way the continent
has tackled the pandemic, have contributed to the successes recorded.
Also present at the meeting was Osagie Ehanire, minister of health.
Smart Adeyemi, chairman of the senate committee on aviation,
had expressed concern over the COVID-19 test protocols for international flight
passengers, and called on the PTF to work out measures that would not
negatively affect the economy.
“We cannot continue swallowing hook, line and sinker,
measures being adopted to fight it in Europe, America, China and other foreign
countries,” the senator said.
“There is something in us as Africans that is not in them in
Europe and America, which made COVID-19 not to be disastrous here as it was
there.
“In the light of this, measures that are detrimental to the
livelihood and well-being of Nigerians should be avoided, so as not to kill the
nation’s economy.”
Adeyemi said such measures were unfair to average Nigerians,
who are forced to expend N75,000 on COVID-19 test.
“The amount is too high. It should be brought down and the
public health institutions’ laboratories should be equipped to carry out the
tests,” he added.
Biodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south, who
affirmed that Nigeria was succeeding in the fight against the pandemic, also
called for a review of the COVID-19 protocols, considering the level of
adherence across the country.
Responding on the country’s success in the face of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Aliyu said poverty and demography have played roles in
reducing the infection rate across the country.
“The aggressive nature of African countries against the
pandemic also helped tremendously in containing the spread of the pandemic in
Nigeria and many of the African countries,” he added.
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