The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has blamed late report of cases and the decision of most of the nation’s elite to remain at home and get treatment as the main reason why they constitute many of the fatalities from COVID-19 in Nigeria.
While speaking at the daily Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Ehanire said many of the patients chose home treatment and reported late to care centres.
“A disturbing picture emerging from statistics is that, not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with pre-existing diseases, many are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they develop sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital,” he said.
Nigeria’s first COVID-19 death was a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Suleiman Achimugu.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the victim had underlying medical conditions – multiple myeloma and diabetes – and was undergoing chemotherapy before returning to Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), patients with diabetes may be at extra risk for COVID-19 mortality.
As of Tuesday night, a total of 192 patients have died out of Nigeria’s 6,401 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Also, Ehanire assured that the Federal Government will continue to provide diagnostic commodities when needed.
