COVID-19: KEBBI GOV APPROVES PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES FOR FRONTLINE HEALTH PERSONNEL, AS STATE DISCHARGES 5 MORE PATIENTS: PRESS RELEASED

The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has approved the payment of operational safety allowances for Frontline Health workers who have been working round the clock to tame raging global Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Pandemic.

This happy story was broken on Saturday, in Birnin Kebbi, by the State Health Commissioner, Alhaji Jafar Mohammmed, who also doubles as the Chairman, State Task Force Committee on COVID-19

The Health Commissioner said ,"these allowances are structured to enhance the pay for the frontline health workers as a light compensation to the risks involved in handling the patients infected with COVID-19."

He enumerated the affected workers to include Public Health Officers, Medical Officers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Others are Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, Directors of PHCs in the LGAs, Specialised Medical Consultants.

Jafar further disclosed that, according to the categories of the allowances, Consultants and Medical Officers will get N20,000 and N15,000, daily, respectively

Similarly, Nurses, Pharmacists and Medical Laboratory Scientists will each be given N10,000, daily.

In the same vein, Ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will each be receiving N5,000, daily.

According to the Task Force Chairman, the Occupational Safety Allowances for Medical Officers, as well as Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers have been graded according to the level of risks involvement.

Jafar stated that, accordingly, high, medium and low risk Officers will each N15,000, N10,000 and N7,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Governor has also graciously approved an array of Motivational Incentives for the Task Force team members and other Frontline health workers working tirelessly to curb the spread of the disease.

Accordingly, each of the members will get N250,000, while the Chairman will garner N500,000.

Jafar further disclosed that, Consultants will receive N300,000, while Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Nurses at the Isolation Centres will each be given N250,000.

In the same vein, Medical Officers at Hospitals trained on Infection prevention, control and case management will each pocket N200,000.

Similarly, N150,000, will be doled out to each of the Nurses at General Hospitals trained on Infection prevention, control and case management

The Commissioner further stated that, Epidemiologists and surveillance Officers, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO), Directors of PHC at state and LGs levels will each get N150,000, under the largesse.

The Task Force Chairman also averred that, supporting staff at the EOC will each receive N100,000.

Jafar said that, Ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will each clinch N50,000.

In a related development, Jafar disclosed that, five more COVID-19 patients have been discharged, as they had tested negative to the disease.

He said that, the total number of patients discharge from the Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo is now 16.

Jafar expressed delight, “this was the handiwork of the dedicated and diligent health personnel, as well as a sign of how beautiful of our healthcare delivery system.

“I must put it on record that, the Task Force members, the health team and other related officers have been working tirelessly, to effectively control the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Signed:
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
17/5/2020