How the Catholic Church offered its 425 hospitals to the FG as isolation centres
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria on behalf of the Church has volunteered all of its 425 mission hospitals and clinics in the country to be converted to isolation centres. The decision to donate the facilities which have been considered as timely and a major boost to the government’s effort at ensuring that there are adequate bed spaces to cater for the increasing number of COVID-19 patients was announced during a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Speaking on the issue, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha urged the state governments to take advantage of the provision as it might be difficult for the federal government to shoulder the rising medical demands alone. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had earlier revealed that no state has enough bed spaces to accommodate all the COVID-19 patients.
The SGF said, “With the increase in numbers, we are beginning to experience a shortage of bed spaces in isolation centres, especially in the high burden areas.
“We are conscious of the need to take care of different categories of persons e.g. people living with disabilities, terminal conditions and other underlying factors or co-morbidities.
“As part of efforts to support the states in the establishment of the Isolation and treatment centres, I wish to remind our Governors that the Catholic Bishops Conference has volunteered all the 425 hospitals and clinics nationwide for adaptation and use as isolation centres. Governors are encouraged to please approach Catholic Bishops in their states to access these facilities.”
He added that states have also been encouraged strongly to set up isolation centres, wards, and ICUs with a minimum of 300 beds each that can accommodate level 1 and 2 cases.
Following the announcement, many Nigerians have lauded the Catholic Church for its contribution to the fight against COVID-19.
“This is why I will always be a fan of the Catholic Church, they gave us the most affordable schools across Nigeria at a time, for almost zero cost… This is what Christ would have done during a Pandemic – I have to Stan….” Mercy Abang tweeted.
“Now, that’s how to be a leader of men. So proud that the biggest Christian group in the world stepped up to the plate. Way to show how Christ would have acted if He was amongst us today,” Gbenga Olorunpomi added.
As of Wednesday morning, May 13, Nigeria currently has a total of 4878 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 959 recoveries and 158 deaths.
