The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has lauded the efforts of the operators and managers of the nation’s healthcare sector, noting that much development had been recorded in the sector since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Vice President stated this yesterday at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Reference Laboratory, Gaduwa, Abuja, where he underwent a facility tour of the facilities.
Osinbajo, who was accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora; and the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, however, observed recent increasing cases of the infection. He warned that the country is in a critical situation.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo attributed the success so far recorded to the work of Nigeria’s health workers and experts across the nation.
He noted that the country has expanded its public health response capabilities and has been making progress in the public health sector since after the nation’s first COVID-19 case last year.
He however said: “We have a critical situation on our hands currently with the increasing number of cases being recorded.”
He also said: “We have activated nearly 120 laboratories nationwide – 70 of them public laboratories – and have significantly ramped up our testing and case management capacity.
“We have expanded the footprint of our sovereign public health response capabilities, especially at the subnational level and in areas where previously such capabilities did not exist. Not so long ago, test samples had to be flown out of the country for examination. This is no longer the case as we now have the capacity to process samples internally”, he said.
Osinbajo observed that such an achievement should not be taken for granted, adding that it is “one that we are determined to consolidate on.”