Healthcare professionals in Katsina state on Tuesday raised alarm that the state currently has no ideal isolation centre for those tested positive for coronavirus.

They also said the state has not involved them in the current preparations to tackle the pandemic in the state.

The healthcare professionals who issued a communiqué under the banner of the Coalition of health professional bodies in Katsina state, maintained that the state needs to do more if it is really serious about tackling the pandemic.

The communiqué was signed by the leadership of the five unions which come together under the coalition including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Katsina; the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM); Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWU).

The Katsina NMA Chairman, Dr.Mohammed Abdulazeez read the communiqué on behalf of other leaders of the coalition who were also present when it(the communiqué) was being read on Tuesday.

The healthcare professionals offered various suggestions to the state government among which the need for the provision of fully equipped Isolation centre (s) devoid of existing hospital settings.

They also demanded that Personal Protective Equipment like gowns, face masks (N95 and others), hand gloves, boots, helmets, sanitizers should be provided for the protection of health care personnel and their patients in all health facilities in the state.

They also recommended the activation of a special system for active case search and contact tracing “with efficiently gadgeted suspect conveyance ambulances.”

The healthcare professionals declared “Nigeria reported the first case on 27th February 2020 and within the span of a month, cases have risen to 131 as at 30th March including two deaths. Several thousands of suspected contacts are also on the tracing list.

“A month prior to the first case in Nigeria, the WHO had, on 30th January 2020, already declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern.

“Though no case has been confirmed in Katsina State, the need for proper preparedness is paramount.

“The leadership of health care professionals commends ongoing efforts by the state government in curtailing the spread of COVID-19, including the closing of borders (entry points), schools closure, engagements through traditional, religious and other institutions on prohibition of religious and social gatherings as well as setting up of a public awareness task force on COVID-19.

“The current healthcare status in the State and country at large cannot withstand a pandemic of this magnitude with rapid spread and high morbidity.

“The leadership of health care professionals notes the absence of some critical pillars in the COVID-19 taskforce. This has resulted in the absence of quarantine system, case evaluation, case isolation and case management.

“The leadership of healthcare professionals are not being involved in the state preparedness efforts against COVID-19.

“The leadership calls for strict execution of entry points/border closure and provision of appropriately manned and equipped designated areas for quarantine at the entry borders of Katsina state.

“The State Government to liaise with the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in provision of testing laboratory in Katsina State by decentralizing the NCDC laboratory.”

The healthcare professionals maintained that the disastrous nature of Covid-19 is real, adding that the most guaranteed measure of containing this pandemic is preventive, especially in Nigerian settings.

They declared:

“We plead with the entire people in Katsina State, traditional and religious institutions to abide by government’s directives as it is in the best interest of all.

“Let the entire populace know that we all have a war at hand. A war with health care providers in the front line even when every societal stratum have a role to play. Our collective aim should be geared towards staying alive, for we have to be alive to service other priorities in life.

“Yes we took an oath, however, our background training could only be optimal with matching arsenal.”