The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA plans to enforce law that enables it forcefully evacuate coronavirus patients who refuse to visit treatment centres.
In a statement released by the FCTA on Friday and obtained by Meridian Spy, the decision was taken following a meeting of the FCT COVID-19 Emergency Response Team and the FCTA management which took place on Tuesday April 21 and chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
Following the submission by the Response Team that some COVID-19 positive individuals were refusing to go for treatment centres and instead preferred to treat themselves in their homes, the FCT Minister expressed dissatisfaction with this development and said existing laws will be used to force such persons to go to treatment centres, explaining that their staying at home posed great risks not just to their families but also immediate communities.
“Since we have begun to witness community transmission of the virus, it is imperative that we must do everything within our power to stop the spread even if we have to compel such persons to go to treatment centres,’ the Minister said.
In order to prevent further spread of the virus within the communities, it was also resolved that massive testing will be carried out in areas where community transmission has been established, including Mabushi, Gishiri and Utako.
The Response Team also encouraged all residents to wear face masks when outside in the public and also encouraged them to make their own face masks from cloth and wear them always.
The Minister further thanked all thanked all the front-line workers in the fight against the virus and called for the cooperation of all residents of the Territory in the fight by obeying all laid down measure which include observing social distancing, constant hand washing, observing stay at home directives and maintain respiratory hygiene.
The meeting had in attendance, Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijanu Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Chinyeaka Ohaa, Acting Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Mohammed Kawu, the Director of Public Health, Dr Josephine Okechukwu, heads of the various sub-committees of the response team and other senior Staff of the Administration.
