Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Niger State Government has described as fake, the video circulating on the social media, which alleged that the Covid-19 patient in the state protested poor condition of the quarantine facilities.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Niger State Task Force on COVID-19 explained that the video is an attempt to water down the frantic efforts the government is making towards combating the pandemic.
According to the statement by Dr M. M. Makusidi, Commissioner for Health, Niger state, “There are two toilet facilties, one for females and one for Males. The isloation centre has 24 hours electricity, having been connected to a 33KVA and standby generator .
It explained further, “The relations of the patient did not want the woman to be quarantined. So, they started making trouble, demanding for her release. Out of mischief, they also went on to do a video in order to discredit the efforts of the state government.
“However, in line with the guidelines by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, both the woman and her brothers have been quarantined.”
The Task Force also reiterated that the woman who naturally should not have been in Niger State because of her condition, decided to leave Kano state on her own accord to seek medical attention in the state.
“Her reason for coming to Niger State according to her was because of her inability to access health care services in Kano State. So, she decided to contravene Niger COVID-19 Order and came back to Suleja, Niger state, but for the alertness of good spirited individuals who raised an alarm ,she was immediately picked up. Her relations however followed from Suleja in protest down to Minna,” the Task Force cleared.
It also pointed out that Niger state has well equipped Isolation/Quarantine Centres and those who are being quarantined are well Taken care of, describing those including media organisations who are circulating the purported video as mischief makers who would rather not see any good in what government is doing.