No fewer than 25 health workers have been diagnosed and confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 in Anambra state.
Dr Vincent Okpala, Commissioner for Health who confirmed it, said this 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 on Tuesday.
The programme was organised by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) , Anambra chapter to train 25 members from the Zones in the state.
Okpala said the infected health workers included two doctors, eight nurses two laboratory technicians among others and regretted that those who should be the warriors were falling victims of the virus.
He said so far, no fewer than 181 persons have been confirmed with the covid-19 in Anambra and that urged on the general public to help them health sector by imbibing the preventive measures to the pandemic.
He said the state government had procured an incinerator for healthy management of hazardous waste.
The commissioner urged the participant to make good use of the training and do well to cascade the knowledge to their zones and ensure that the health workers in Anambra benefit from the training.
“COVID-19 is a leveler, am glad that NMA Covid-19 is a leveler, am glad that NMA with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is putting this together, there is need to protect our health workers,” he said.
On his part, Dr Nice Onyekwelu, Chairman of NMA in Anambra in his welcome address said the training would enable the trainees understand the basics of Covid-19 disease,
epidemiology and transmission.
Onyekwelu said it was part of the efforts of the NMA at propagating infection prevention and control capacity of members and all health care workers in the state especially the private sector.
He decried the high number of medical doctors who have been exposed, confirmed or died from COVID-19 as worrisome and called for a more concerted effort at stemming the tide.
The chairman commended the International Committee for Red Cross and NCDC for partnering the NMA in the programme and the Anambra government for their support.
Dr Ngozi Ezeonu, Chairman of Anambra NMA Taskforce on COVID-19 said the two day programme was not just covid-19 infection prevention but to enhance capacity on curbing the infectiousness of all other disease.
Ezeonu said the module included all what was needed to keep health workers on the safe side.
Director General of NCDC Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu lauded the Anambra NMA for the initiative.
Ihekweazu who represented by Dr Tochi Okwor the leader of Anti Microbial Resistance and Prevention and Control Coordinator said Nigerians must observe all safety protocol as the economy was gradually opening.