Health

Kaduna State government has directed Civil servants below Grade Level 14 are to work from home from Monday, 21st December 2020, subject to directives or summons by their supervisors who may require their presence in the office.

A statement by the Special adviser to the state governor on Media and Communication Mr Muyiwa Adekeye appeals to all residents to see COVID-19 prevention as a vital personal responsibility and to act accordingly.

According to the statement, Businesses must provide thermometers for temperature checks,
and sanitisers or hand-washing equipments and physical distancing measures within all facilities.

It explains that, Places of worship must also enforce facemasks, provide sanitisers and ensure physical distancing while the number of worshippers will be capped, stressing that, Congregational worship should not exceed one hour.

“It is mandatory for Organisations and individuals to enforce the no mask, no entry mandate while Large gatherings are henceforth prohibited.

The statement notes that, Transport operators must reduce capacity to not more than two passengers per row and not more than 50% of capacity.

“Supermarkets and providers of personal services such as hair dressing and barbing salons can remain open, but service providers and customers must use facemasks and limit the number of persons they admit and serve at any time”

The statement further maintains that, Hotels can remain open, but their restaurants and bars can offer
only room service while Event centres, Night clubs, Gyms and Bars and Lounges are to close until further notice.

It further stated that, all schools will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.

Kaduna State Government appeals for collective compliance with
these measures to enable the state to tackle the new wave of Covid-19
infections while allowing citizens to safely continue the pursuit of livelihood.

The statement emphasizes that,the state government taskforce and other agencies will help enforce these regulations, ultimately, the effectiveness of these measures depends on the exercise of personal responsibility and voluntary compliance with the protocols.

The state government calls for collective action with citizens to curb the infections without having to resort to extraordinary measures like a lockdown.

The government believes that mass compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols should suffice to help reduce the rate of infections.

FRCN Abuja

Health

The British government has presented personal Protective Equipment worth Millions of naira to Kaduna State Government to combating Covid-19 pandemic.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing presented the Equipment to the state Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe in Kaduna.

Catriona Laing said the items donated were gloves, sanitisers, marx and other important items as part of effort to support Kaduna State Government in fighting COVID-19 across the state.

She said the fight against COVID-19 was not yet over, emphasized the need for people to take measures of protecting themselves with a view to curtailing the spread and protect frontline health workers from contracting the Virus.

Catriona Laing stated that, the equipment presented to Kaduna State government was the second phase of Lafiya programme.

The British High Commissioner Commended longstanding relationship between Britain and Kaduna State Government, pledged to provide more support.

In a remark, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe said the donation of the Equipment came at a right time when the fight against Covid-19 was still on.

She noted that, the items would strengthen Kaduna States Government’s effort in the fight against Covid-19, especially at this time that government is seeing a gradual rise in the number of positive cases after experiencing a flattening of the curve for sometimes.

Dr Hadiza Balarabe stated that, Health personnel of the State Emergency Operation Centre were still working in the four isolation centres established and the four testing centres to trace, test and treat patients of Covid-19.

She said the protecting equipment would assist the State frontline staff working in health facilities and those working in various communities to contain this pandemic.

The Deputy Governor expressed appreciation to Her Majesty’s Government for its generous support to Kaduna State through various programmes and projects that have continued to touch the lives of it citizens in many significant ways.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency Dr Ramatu Abdulkadir, acknowledged the tremendous support of the British government through it agencies, stressing that the state government had benefitted immensely in the area of training operational staff for improve capacity, health products support for various programs as well infrastructural upgrade among others.

According to Dr Ramatu, the equipment presented by the British government was through the Lafiya Programme funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Office in furtherance of the prevention and containment of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said the agency would collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to deliver the equipment to the last mile for the benefit of people of Kaduna State.

Aminu Dalhatu