Kaduna State government will set up mechanism that will ensure that there is no discrimination and stigmatization of discharged COVID-19 patients in the state.
Making the observation while addressing newsmen in Kaduna, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni, said a monitoring and evaluation template had been developed to enable real time electronic capture activities and progress in the various implementation processes in the response to COVID-19.
The Commissioner explained that the State government was working with 950 community mobilizers to see that stigma and discrimination of those that have been treated and discharged stopped happening.
She said the state had carried out 115 COVID-19 tests, out of which nine tested positive. She added that the State had also carried out 174 contacts tracing.
Dr Baloni explained that the state had activated one testing laboratory at a private facility, with two others at Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, saying the testing laboratories were almost ready for COVID-19 testing activities.
The Commissioner confirmed that the State had treated and discharged six Coronavirus patients, explaining that there are still three active cases left.
She said the state had the capacity to make 100 COVID-19 tests everyday once the testing kits and reagents are available, with the result coming out within four to six hours.
She said the state government engaged relevant stakeholders since the first case was reported on March 27.
The Commissioner explained, “The Infectious Disease Control Centre (IDCC), was upgraded in terms of infrastructure, specialized equipment and personnel to make it capable of managing Covid-19 patients that may need critical care.”
She added that the State investment and corporate organizations have made it possible to have an additional facility equipped and ready to admit additional 150 patients if necessary.
She explained that so far, over 22,000 people have been trained on various components of COVID-19 prevention protocol or its management.
