By Adedapo Adesanya
A total of 5,000 health workers have been offered free health insurance cover worth N112.5 million, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the coronavirus pandemic has disclosed.
The cover has been fully paid for by the Nigerian insurance industry in line with the principle of No Premium, No Cover, Chairman of the PTF, Mr Boss Mustapha, stated.
Mr Mustapha, who doubles as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), informed newsmen last Friday that the Life Insurance covers the frontline workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Mustapha made this disclosure in Abuja at the 19th joint national briefing of the committee.
According to him, “The premium in the sum of N112.5 million for the cover has been fully paid by the Nigerian Insurance Industry in line with the principle of No Premium, No Cover.
“The PTF wishes to thank the Insurance industry immensely and calls on other sectors of the economy to rise to support the efforts to fight COVID-19.
“I also call on our frontline health workers to double their efforts just as we assure them of our determination to protect them.”
The SGF recalled that the PTF had embarked on the assessment of the readiness in nine states, said that the committee has strengthened collaboration with the states, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with other MDAs and the health sector professional bodies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for various allowances and other incentives for the frontline health workers.
Mr Mustapha also said that the PTF committee would extend its workings to West African neighbours to tackle the novel coronavirus.
According to him, the ECOWAS Heads of State on Thursday, held a Summit via video-conference to chart a common course for the sub-region on COVID-19 and in order to ensure high-level coordination of all the regional efforts to contain the pandemic, the summit appointed President Muhammadu Buhari, as “champion”, to coordinate the COVID-19 response and eradication process.
“This is a monumental recognition for the leadership role of our President and an endorsement of the direction we are headed in our national response.
“The implication of this assignment is that the PTF must now factor the West African sub-region into its plan and activities, to support Mr President in his new role.
“I must add that the summit also set up Ministerial Coordination Committees on Health, Finance, and Transport to coordinate regional efforts, under the supervision of the champion,” he added.
On his part the health minister, Mr Osagie Ehanire, announced that about 40 health workers in Nigeria have so far, tested positive for COVID-19.
He said apart from the over 40 health workers, there are others who have been quarantined in the last 2 weeks due to exposure and have not been able to contribute to efforts of the health sector.
Due to their vulnerability to this disease, health workers have been advised to take extra precautions in handling suspected cases.
