Download logo“We are empowered and ready to engage in COVID-19 surveillance and contact tracing,” says Abubakar Suleiman, one of 205 disease surveillance officers originally trained by WHO to identify outbreaks of polio across six states in northeast Nigeria. Across the country, Polio health staff and infrastructure are rapidly being repurposed towards the COVID-19 response, which includes identifying suspect COVID-19 cases, and tracing all potential contacts to contain its rapid spread. All States have established isolation centres while preparing for active case finding of suspected COVID-19 cases. In Bauchi State, where six cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, WHO personnel are also involved in contact tracing. “I think with all the steps we have taken so far, Borno State is prepared for a robust response to the COVID-19 pandemic”, said Dr Sule Mele ,the Executive Director of Borno State Primary Healthcare Agency.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 10, 2020 12:11 UTC