COVID-19: Private sector coalition to set up treatment centres in 36 states

The private sector coalition against COVID-19 has set a deadline of five weeks to donate isolation and treatment centres to all states of the federation.

A statement released on Monday on behalf of the coalition by Isaac Okorafor, CBN director of corporate communications.

Okorafor said the initial phase has begun in the six geopolitical zones and the centres will be operational within the next 10 days.

“Currently, cases of the virus have been reported among individuals across Nigeria and there is a high risk of the virus spreading through much of the population, if we do not come together to fight this battle. Necessitating, the introduction of the private sector coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID),” the statement read.

“We are pleased to announce that work has begun in earnest to provide and equip medical facilities in the six geopolitical zones.

“This will involve the creation of testing, isolation and treatment centres, and include the provision of intensive care units (ICUs) and molecular testing labs.”

The states where work is ongoing are Lagos (1,000 beds), Kano (500 beds), Rivers (210 beds) Abuja (200 beds), Enugu (200 beds) and Borno (200 beds), he said.

Bauchi, Katsina, Ogun, Bayelsa, Anambra and Plateau were announced as the states where the next phase of the project would take place.

The coalition said the second phase would be ready within three weeks while the remaining states would be set up within five weeks.

The coalition also said a permanent structure would be constructed in Lagos based on the size of its population and the fact that it is the epicentre of the outbreak.

The next phase will see locations set up in Katsina, Ogun, Bayelsa, Anambra, Bauchi and Plateau to be ready within three weeks. The remaining states of the Federation will be set up in the last phase within the next five weeks.

Account details were also made available to those interested in making donations.

For naira contributions, interested parties are to deposit in 1000014920, an account with the CBN named COVID-19 Relief fund while dollar contributions are to be paid into 0017575300, a CBN TSA account with CitiBank UK.

Donors were also assured of a monthly financial update.