London, June 16, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Nigerian on Monday launched a three year Response Plan aimed at stemming COVID-19 transmission in the country within the next three years

The three year response plan was unveiled same day Nigeria added 573 new coronavirus and four additional deaths according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).The country’s total infections have now risen to 16,658

573 new cases of #COVID19;

Lagos-216
Rivers-103
Oyo-68
Edo-40
Kano-21
Gombe-20
FCT-17
Delta-13
Plateau-12
Bauchi-12
Niger-10
Kebbi-9
Ogun-8
Ondo-8
Abia-7
Nasarawa-5
Borno-1
Kwara-1
Benue-1
Anambra-1

16,658 confirmed
5,349 discharged
424 deaths pic.twitter.com/htVx1P83WG

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) June 15, 2020

Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who presented the three year response plan in Abuja at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF), briefing on COVID-19 said the plan would be executed in near, medium and long term  phases within the period

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“COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. We shall keep learning as we go along.  Hence the plan will require modification and updating as we learn more about the disease.

“Despite the rising figures, the case fatality rate remains at about three per cent which is lower than many countries, but not a cause for relief.”

Ehanire said that because of the increasing cases, it was important  for people to be proactive so as to  reduce the fatalities.

According to him, people  who tested positive are still strongly advised to present themselves at the  treatment centre closest to them.

”This is most especially so for those with underlying ailments like diabetes, hypertension or are above 60 years of age,” he said.

The Minister said that response in tracing, testing and case management  was being driven by data and evidence, adding that protocol was being adjusted for quarantine and treatment accordingly.

Ehanire  said that the  Lagos State authorities had  reported that people who treated themselves first at home were often more of the patients that hardly made it to the hospitals during emergencies.

“We are collaborating with states to strengthen their response according to needs.

“An arrangement has been reached to send collaborative team to Cross River State in the coming days to complement the work of the state government,” he said.

Ehanire also disclosed  that the ministry was planning to increase the number of laboratories, with priority given to states  that had no laboratory with PCR capability, including Cross River and Kogi States.