The  World Health Organization  {WHO} has donated 26 ventilators and 3,560 fingertip oxygen pulse for the management of patients in isolation and treatment facilities, as well as home-based patients in Nigeria.

The Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi, presented the donation to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Thursday in Abuja.

Kazadi said that Nigeria had performed relatively well in terms of timely containing each of the last two waves and maintaining a national case fatality rate of 1.3 per cent, a level that was half the regional average.

According to him, with the third wave now upon the country, the expectations from all are not any less.

Kazadi noted that with the COVID-19 outbreak reaching a stage with increasing numbers in the country, and around the globe, it was imperative to have a strong response in all pillars.

“As of the beginning of August 2021, about 15 months into the outbreak, Nigeria reached 175,264 confirmed cases, the majority (over 94 per cent) had been successfully treated and discharged. Unfortunately, 2,163 died,’’ he said.
Kazadi said he believed the donation would complement the government’s notable initiatives.

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He added that the donation would also help to address identified gaps in readiness for the third wave that was being driven by the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Ehanire thanked the organization and UN agencies that had contributed to training staff to carry out their functions properly.
He said the ministry would ensure adequate distribution of the items donated as some areas may need it more than others.