Nigerian Military records first case of coronavirus, unveils 17 isolation, treatment centres

Nigerian Military on Monday confirmed that it has recorded an index case of the dreaded Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic ravaging the world.

The coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, who disclosed this when he briefed newsmen at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, said that the unnamed military officer recently returned from a foreign assignment and tested positive.

Noting that he was the first case of the virus for the Armed Forces, he said the officer had since been admitted at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

During the briefing, he said the military would unveil 17 isolation treatment centres across the country for the treatment of Covid-19.

He also said that the Armed Forces were going to see that the restriction on movement, as ordered by Presidential Muhammadu Buhari, was enforced.

He listed the military isolation and treatment centres to be unveiled to include the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, 2 Division Hospital Ibadan, Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar and the Military Hospital, Benin.

Others were the 211 Regiment Group Medical Centre, Owerri. 82 Division Military Hospital, Enugu, 161 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi, 22 Brigade Medical Centre, Ilorin. 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, 465 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kano and the 263 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura.

Also listed were 119 Composite Group Medical Centre, Sokoto, 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Bauchi, 163 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Yola, 7 Division Military Hospital, Maiduguri and 27 Task Force Brigade Field Ambulance, Damaturu.

“A Committee headed by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major General Leo Irabor, is in place interfacing with all relevant Ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria managing the COVID- 19 pandemic.

“As mentioned in my first briefing regarding COVID-19, there are 17 isolation and treatment centres earmarked which are spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Further to this, a good number of Armed Forces of Nigerian medical personnel have been earmarked to be trained on the management of COVID 19 cases, which will be done in liaison with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” Enenche said.