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Gov. Ganduje, Federal Govt Disagree Over Sudden Death In Kano

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire disagree over the percentage of people who died due to COVID-19 in April.

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The Federal Government has been condemned by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State over the report that over 50 per cent of the sudden death recorded in the state was associated with Coronavirus.

Recall that the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, while speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja, noted that a total of 979 people died as a result of strange illnesses in Kano in April.

Ehanire said, “With regards to the unexplained deaths which occurred in Kano over a five-week period, the team confirmed that a total of 979 deaths were actually recorded in eight Municipal Local Government Areas in the state and at a time at the rate of 43 deaths per day as measured by counting activities at the graveyard.”

“The verbal autopsy revealed that about 56% of the deaths occurred at home while 38% were in the hospital. The investigation suggests that 50% to 60% of the deaths may have been triggered by or due to COVID-19.”

Ganduje while reacting to the report on Tuesday noted that 15% of the deaths were Coronavirus related.

The governor in a statement released through his spokesman, Abba Anwar, said a report by the Case of Mortality Committee in the state revealed otherwise.

According to him, the report partly read, “A retrospective study of mortalities was conducted over approximately 2-weeks (27th April – 15th May 2020); across 8 metropolitan LGAs (Gwale, Fagge, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, Nassarawa, Kano Municipal and Dala).”

“COVID-19 might have contributed to 15.9 % of the cases of mortality but within the limitations of the verbal autopsy method that cannot provide confirmation.”

“Some deaths may be related to disruption of medical care and socio-economic activities due to fear of contracting COVID-19, which usually happen during epidemics.”

“If the mysterious deaths were COVID-19 related, the deaths could have come more from local governments that have more COVID-19 cases.”

Ganduje revealed that the report would be communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha; and the Minister of Health.