Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have donated 425 clinics to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) for use as isolation centres.
The donation of the clinics spread across the states in the country was made through the Catholic Bishops Conference.
Chairman of the taskforce and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, announced the donation on Monday during the daily COVID-19 briefing of the PTF in Abuja.
The announcement came even as he urged State governments to set up isolation centres with a minimum of 300 beds in their states to strengthen the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
Mustapha said that the isolation centres should include wards and Intenesive Care Units (ICUs).
He said: “This will help accommodate levels one and two cases. However, with the increase in numbers, we are beginning to experience a shortage of bed spaces in the isolation centres, especially in the high-burden areas.
“We are conscious of the need to take care of different categories of persons like those living with disabilities, terminal conditions and other underlying factors co-morbidities.
“Catholic Bishops Conference has volunteered all the 425 hospitals and clinics nationwide for adaptation and use as isolation centres.
“Governors are encouraged to please approach Catholic Bishops in their states to access these facilities.”
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Mustapha reiterated that contracting COVID-19 was not a death sentence but stressed that disregarding the guidelines for its avoidance, as guided by experts, was “a costly self-voyage.”
He therefore, appealed to Nigerians to continue to adhere to all guidelines, adding “You must take personal responsibility for your actions.
The PTF Chair, noted that May 10 marked the end of the first week of the partial lifting of the lockdown in parts of the country, reminding Nigerians that they were still in Phase One of the three-pronged fortnightly strategy.
According to him, the past one week has provided the taskforce an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the guidelines.
“The completion of the first week has provided the PTF COVID-19 an opportunity for a mid-phase review of the impact of the guidelines put in place to drive our National Response.
“I am also sure that Nigerians have equally focused on the pandemic and have done their assessment of progress made, especially as it relates to compliance,’’ he noted.
He said that the convergence of thoughts on the level of compliance with the guidelines and how individual and collective responses could improve or jeopardise the ability to contain the virus has been a gratifying out the review undertaken by the PTF.
“During the first week, the country generally witnessed increased number of positive cases. This is attributable to our expanded capacity for testing with the opening up of more testing centres and laboratories.
“As at today (Monday), there are 23 laboratories nationwide, including private laboratories; we shall continue to engage with more private laboratories,” he explained.
He said that the PTF had continued to review the relevant policy and protocols so that actions and decisions would be most effective.
