Kaduna State has 14 more Covid-19 positive results from almajiris who were repatriated from Kano, Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni has confirmed.
The infections come as information filtered on Saturday evening that a fresh fatality has occurred in the State, but a source said the fatality is not among the almajiris that came in from Kano.
The good news for health workers is that the Government has offered to pay daily incentives to frontline health workers and provide them additional insurance coverage for death and disability.
On the 14 new cases of infection, Dr Baloni at the daily meeting of the State Standing Committee on Covid-19 on Saturday, said that the figure may rise as more test results are awaited.
The Commissioner however assured the Standing Committee that the repatriated almajiris are being accommodated in one location, and have not mingled with the community.
A statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye said that Dr Baloni also told the Standing Committee “that installation of a PCR machine has commenced at the Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital.”
“When accredited by the NCDC, this will increase to three the number of Covid-19 testing labs activated in Kaduna State during this pandemic,” she assured.
The statement said that the “Standing Committee commended the people of Kaduna State for their sacrifice and cooperation in enduring Quarantine Orders that are designed to protect citizens from Covid-19, prevent the spread of the virus from other states and avert the nightmare of community transmission.”
Adekeye noted that the inconveniences being endured by Kaduna State residents require that their sacrifices be complemented by robust enforcement of border lockdowns.
According to him, “this will eliminate both willful and inadvertent spread of Covid-19 by persons crossing state lines in breach of Kaduna State Quarantine Orders and the prohibition of inter-state travel by the Federal Government.”
The Special Adviser encourages citizens “to report anyone who sneaks into the state so that health officials can take swift action.”
Speaking on the incentive for health workers In a statement, the Health Commissioner said that ‘’government has also approved a monthly incentive of 10% of net pay for other health workers in public hospitals and primary health centres.’’
According to Dr Baloni, high risk staff are to receive a compensation of N15,000 per day, medium risk staff will receive N10,000 per day, and low risk staff will get N5,000 per day.
The statement also said that ‘’the insurance package includes death benefit of N5m, disability benefit of N2.5m and Covid-19 infection cover of N100,000 daily for 10 days.’’
‘’This package has been enhanced from the initial set of benefits kindly donated by Leadway Assurance. Kaduna State Government is paying additional premiums to increase the assured sum for death and disability to the amounts stated above,’’ she said.
The Commissioner further said that the Occupational Safety Incentive takes effect from April 2020.
The Commissioner said that government acknowledges and commends its health workers for their dedication and professionalism in the efforts to contain and manage Covid-19.
Dr Baloni pointed out that Governor Nasir El-Rufai ‘’has also paid personal tribute to the medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals who successfully treated him when he was infected by Covid-19. ‘’