An Indian staff of Onshore Construction Company, an instrumentation
contracting firm with Dangote Fertilizer Limited, who had shown symptoms
associated with COVID-19 and subsequently isolated, has been confirmed
negative.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who disclosed
the outcome of the test via his Twitter handle said, “An Indian national
that was admitted in our facility yesterday (Monday) night with symptoms
suggestive of #COVID19 has tested negative to #COVID19.
“He is doing perfectly well in our isolation unit. His case will be
reviewed in the morning (Wednesday)”, the tweet added.
It would be recalled that the management of Dangote Industries Limited
had announced that an Indian national working for a third party firm at
its fertilizer plant had shown up at the site clinic exhibiting symptoms
suggestive of Covid-19 pandemic and was immediately quarantined and
taken to the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba.
According to the company, “the patient’s complaint triggered our
COVID-19 Preparation and Prevention Protocols which necessitated further
screening and isolation immediately.”
DIL said one Mr. Akhil Kunyil, of the Health and Safety Environment unit
of the Onshore Company had reported the development to it, following
which local authorities were contacted.
“The suspected COVID-19 patient was immediately moved to the Lagos
Mainland Hospital where he was placed in isolation ward for confirmatory
test, which later turned out to be negative.
“As an organization we have taken the following stringent proactive
measures across our entire group. These include: As an organization we
have taken the following stringent proactive measures across our entire
group:
1) Development of a comprehensive risk identification, control
priotization and escalation plan executed by our Co-Vid19 Task Force
constituted in January 2020.
2) Identification and retention of a competent team of medical
consultants
3) Travel ban for all employees to/from high risk countries as per W.H.O
publications of country exposures
4) Travel tracking of all employees and contractors staff
arriving/leaving Nigeria and obligations for completion of medical
checks to validate health status
5) Implementation of use of Thermal cameras across our various sites as
well as infrared thermometers checking in smaller office locations
6) Identification and creation where applicable of holding, isolation
and quarantine areas.
7) Implementation of use of sanitizers across all locations: sites and
offices
8) Multiple and continuous awareness campaigns on preventative measures
to be taken (both electronic and physical i.e posters, public
announcements)
The measures, the company management said are being continually updated
as the situation globally evolves and will continue to do so. “The
welfare of our employees and the nation as a whole remains our utmost
priority.”, it added.
With the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic, the Aliko Dangote
Foundation (ADF) had announced a donation of N200 million to support
efforts of the Federal government towards curbing the spread of the
virus in the country.
Speaking during the donation in Abuja, the Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ms. Zouera Youssoufou, who was
represented by the Health and Nutrition Programme Officer, Maryam
Shehu-Buhari, said the donation was part of the Foundation’s cardinal
objective of partnering governments at all levels against the dreaded
disease in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
In this regard, she stated that the Foundation has earmarked a sum of
N124 million to support the procurement of facilities that will help
prevent, assess and respond to health events at Points-of-Entry to
ensure National Health Security.
Youssoufou also highlighted other areas of intervention to include
surveillance and epidemiology, where facilities worth N36 million will
be provided by the Foundation to support government’s efforts.
The Federal Government had acknowledged the kind gesture by the Aliko
Dangote Foundation and commended its Chairman, Aliko Dangote for always
rising to the occasion whenever the need arises.
The government recalled similar intervention during the Ebola crisis
when the Foundation led efforts at ending the scourge not only in
Nigeria but generally on the African continent.