With over 700,000 active cases and over 50,000 deaths recorded globally, with Nigeria having 162 active cases and 2 death cases, the Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State, Prof. Edmund Banwat has reaffirmed that there is no positive case of the Coronavirus in Plateau State.

He said contrary to false and misleading information being circulated in the public domain in the State, the State has taken samples of suspected cases with none turning out positive.

He said no one will hide any positive case if tested owing to the risk involved in not isolating to avoid contact and spread of the virus.

He said NCDC could had made public any confirmed case if any in the State.

He said though the State is yet to record any positive case of the virus, there are proactive measures in place to prevent spread and contain the disease should there be any case.

Prof. Banwat said JUTH has one of the best isolation centre in the Country as adjudged by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Chief Medical Director of JUTH has commended the youths who are working assiduously to save lives by fixing faulty ventilators.

He confirmed that they have fixed 2 Ventilators so far and still working on another. He lauded the ingenuity of the youths, their innovative and inventive prowess as well as their industrious disposition which he said is fascinating.

He said he had doubt from the beginning when he was approached by the gentlemen considering how sensitive a ventilator is but now very impressed by the talents and capabilities being displayed by the young men.

He underscored the importance of ventilators to isolation centres saying they remain critical in managing advanced cases of COVID-19 which is breathing difficulties.

Speaking on the Coronavirus, Prof. Edmund described the Coronavirus as a global threat to human health, peace and lives.

He charged the people to practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently using running water or use hand sanitizers with 70% alcohol content as approved by the World Health Organization, avoid handshake, avoid crowded places, maintain good personal hygiene and adhere strictly to other safety, preventive and precautionary measures to stem the spread of the virus.

He said JUTH now has 6 functioning ventilators including the ones fixed by the two youths. He said there is need for ventilators in the Hospital and they have placed order for more ventilators but since the global outbreak of COVID-19, the manufacturers are unable to meet global demands for the machines.

He said patients at critical stage of COVID-19 will need ventilators to assist them in breathing.

“The more the number of confirmed cases, especially critical cases, the more the need for ventilators” Prof. Banwat said.

He said youths such as Williams Gyang and Nura Jibrin should be encouraged to put in their best I producing Ventilators locally to meet national needs.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health is compiling list of ventilators to be supplied to Federal Health Facilities across the Nation.

count | 593

COVID-19: Plateau State has No Confirmed Case of Coronavirus – CMD JUTH, Prof. Banwat