CACOVID condemns video on Kano isolation centre, describes as misleading

The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has described a viral video on social media, stating that Kano State Government has no functional Isolation Center for persons infected with the virus in the state an act of mischief.

The coalition said the video uses the Kofar Mata Isolation Center, donated by CACOVID and still under construction, as a case study.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Chief Executive Officer of Aliko Dangote Foundation and Administrator of CACOVID Zouera Yousoufou and sent to Solacebase said it is sheer mischief and a deliberate attempt to scuttle the ongoing fight against COVID-19, which has started yielding fruit in the state.

Solacebase reports that private Sector coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) is a nongovernmental joint initiative of private organizations and bodies in Nigeria driven by the common goals, of helping Nigeria in the fight against Covid-19 and in improving Nigeria’s healthcare system post the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘’To set the record straight, even before Kano state recorded its index case, CACOVID, a coalition purposely created to support Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19, had the zeal and will to support the state fight coronavirus,’’ said the statement.

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‘’Since March 2020, CACOVID had launched its intervention to Kano with the establishment of a two-tents facility as a 500-bed Isolation Center, situated at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, in the metropolis.’’

‘’CACOVID also provided all the needed equipment, including respirators, lab equipment, oxygen equipment, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other consumables for the facility that are presently warehoused in the Kano State Ministry of Health stores and other locations pending the completion of the construction work.’’

The statement said, however, given the Infection Prevention and Control Protocols required, and with advice and guidance from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Isolation Center in question had to be redesigned in order to effectively serve the purpose for which it was Established.

It noted that hence, the State Government advised that more centres should be set up using some of the 500 beds initially procured for the Kofar Mata centre.

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The statement explained that therefore, the following Isolation Centers were swiftly established; a 77-bed Isolation Center at Imam Abubakar Urology Center – Completely renovated and equipped and delivered on May 11, 2020, 10 beds to Daula Isolation Center with 200 beds to Karfi Sports Institute Centre.

And also, 213 beds currently retained at Sani Abacha stadium for a redesign.

According to the statement the ongoing redesign project of the Kofar Mata Isolation Center has included the following, introduction of DONNING & DOFFING areas at the entrance and exit point of each tent to demarcate red and green zones for staff movements; Introduction of cleanable wall panelling and suspended ceiling to create air-tightness of the wards (red zone) and Introduction of insulation, ACs and air extractors in the wards to maintain temperature and keep a negative pressure in the wards.

‘’Introduction of Patient toilets and showers away from Staff areas in the red zone; Introduction of a Laboratory and PCR be able to test on-site all the patients; Introduction of a dedicated testing area away from the staff areas (green) and the wards (red) in order to test potential cases; Introduction of a laundry in order to treat all the wards contaminated linen on-site and introduction of a morgue.’’

‘’These containerized units which only started arriving on site from Lagos this weekend – 22 May (2 weeks behind schedule) are part of the reason for the apparent delays.’’

‘’The heavy and complex redesign has taken longer than we expected, given the challenges due to the various lockdowns and related slower pace of work. Our expected handover date of the Centre will duly be communicated.’’

The statement added that this is what the person(s) behind the video used to mislead the public and portray the commitment of the Kano State Government and National efforts towards combatting COVID-19 in a bad light.

CACOVID in the statement called on the general public to disregard the video and continue to support the government, private sector, and local communities in our fight against COVID-19 in the state and the rest of the country.

‘’It is worthy of note that CACOVID has delivered 83% of the food palliatives for Kano targeting 112,634 households (675,804 individuals) as a separate part of our support to Government and citizens to ease the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact. ‘’