Fayemi Speaks On Working With FG To Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus Disease

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies to ensure efforts to control Lassa Fever in the country, as well as the prevention any case of the Coronavirus in the country are intensified.

This the Forum disclosed through its Chairman, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State while briefing newsmen at the end of the forum’s meeting held yesterday night in Abuja.

He said during the meeting, they received updates on Lassa fever epidemic and the “coronavirus”, which has been claiming lives in China and spreading to other parts of the world.

“The Forum received an update from the NGF Secretariat on Health priorities for year 2020, including the implementation of the Seattle Commitment signed by the Forum at a two-day High-Level Roundtable on Primary Health Care and Human Capital Development convened in November, 2019 (by Aliko Dangote and the Bill and Melinda Gates).

“On the Lassa fever, we recorded cases in one or two states, Ondo in the South West and Kano in the North.

“I believe all our state are taking precautionary measures to address this in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Centre for disease control (NCDC).

“We are working to ensure that this does not spread any further than they have at the moment,” Fayemi said.

According to him, concerted actions would immediately begin on the implementation of the Seattle Declaration including the constitution of a multisectoral Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) implementation committee.

He said the Primary HealthCare performance in State Executive Council meetings would be reviewed quarterly, adding that they would also conduct a review of States‘ performance on the Abuja Commitment and organization of advocacy meetings with traditional and religious leaders.

Fayemi also pledged the governors’ commitment to work with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to achieve broadband penetration and digital economy targets in Nigeria.

He said the commission followed a presentation to the forum by a delegation led by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, to familiarise the governors on the new National Digital Economic Policy.