06-11-2020
The United States Department of Defense through the U.S. Africa Command AFRICOM, has provided personal protective equipment worth one hundred and forty four thousand dollars ($144,000) to support COVID-19 prevention in military and civilian medical facilities in Lagos, Kano, Akwa-Ibom, and Cross River States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement by the US embassy in Abuja says the ceremonial handover of the items to the Nigerian military took place at the 063 Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Abuja.
It says the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Babangida Hussaini, and the U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, presided over the event.
It says the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ohanire, inaugurated the 063 NAFH as a COVID-19 treatment center in June 2020, to serve as primary military COVID-19 isolation and treatment center in Abuja and actively contributes to the national response by admitting, treating, and releasing COVID-19 patients.
The facility has long served as a medical treatment facility for infectious and non-infectious diseases and is part of the network of military sites offering comprehensive HIV care and treatment to both military and civilians.
It states that the U.S. Department of Defense contribution is as a result of the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and Nigerian militaries and is another component of the more than $57 million dollars in support provided by the U.S. Government to the COVID-19 response in Nigeria.
PR-Hamza Alkali