Commissioner: ‘25 health workers infected with COVID-19 in Anambra’

At least 25 health workers have been infected with the COVID-19 in Anambra state, the Commissioner for Health, Dr .Vincent Okpala has said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Training of Trainers in Agulu, Anaocha council area of the state, the commissioner said the affected persons were diagnosed and returned positive for the virus.

The programme was organised by the Nigeria Medical Association, Anambra chapter, to train 25 members selected from the zones across the state.

Okpala said the infected health workers included two doctors, eight nurses, and two laboratory technicians, among others, and expressed regrets that those who should be the warriors were falling victims to the virus.

He said so far, Anambra had 181 confirmed COVID-19 caseloads.

He urged the general public to help the health sector by keeping to all the preventive measures and stay safe.

He also said the state government had purchased an incinerator for healthy management of hazardous waste.

The commissioner urged the participants to make good use of the training, cascade the knowledge to their zones and ensure that health workers in Anambra benefit from the training.

“COVID-19 is a leveler, and I’m glad that NMA, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, is putting this together; there is need to protect our health workers,” he said.

Chairman of NMA in Anambra, Dr. Nice Onyekwelu, said the training would enable the trainees to understand the basics of COVID-19 disease, epidemiology and transmission.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, lauded the Anambra NMA for the initiative.

Represented by Dr. Tochi Okwor, the leader of Anti Microbial Resistance and Prevention and Control Coordinator, Ihekweazu said Nigerians must observe all safety protocols as the economy gradually opens.