The Nigerian government says it is making efforts to provide medical and life insurance cover for health workers battling the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, who revealed this on Friday urged the frontline medical personnel not to relent in the struggle to win the fight against coronavirus.
He explained that the Federal Government was aware of the risks the health workers face in the course of their duty, stating that this prompted the decision on the insurance cover.
“In recognition of the danger to which our frontline health workers are exposed to, government is working with other stakeholders to structure medical and life insurance cover for their protection,” Mustapha said.
He added, “I, therefore, wish to assure them of our commitment and urge them to put in their utmost best as they battle to save us from this ravaging disease.”
The task force chairman, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the disclosure at a briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.
According to him, the role of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the battle is also well recognised.
Mustapha, however, urged them to deploy their resources, especially community-based manpower to shore up the arrangements by the sub-national entities.
He informed the audience that the task force has made progress in the mobilisation of resources to re-enforce its preparedness and other implementation arrangements to ease the effect of coronavirus on the citizens.
The SGF said the task force has received positive reports that there has been a high level of compliance with the lockdown orders in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja.
He appealed to Nigerians to play their part in the national response very seriously, as the Federal Government ensure measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Mustapha also asked law enforcement agencies in the country to deploy tact and caution in the course of enforcing the lockdown, even in the face of provocation.
He stressed that coronavirus has remained a potential danger to all of humanity, as well as a threat to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
The briefing was also attended by some members of the task force, including ministers and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Some of the ministers present were Dr Osagie Ehanire (Health), Mr Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Senator Hadi Sirika (Aviation), and Mr Rauf Aregbesola (Interior).
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