COVID-19: Almajiris received from Kano among new cases in Kaduna, Says Commissioner

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni has confirmed five new cases of Covid-19 in the state.

She said, “the new cases are among Almajirai who were recently repatriated from Kano.”

Baloni said in a statement that there are now nine active cases in the state.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Northern governors agreed to ban the almajiri system as part of efforts to curb the spread of the dreaded viral disease.

The system is a form of education that requires young children to be sent far away from their homes to Islamic scholars.

The governors agreed to evacuate the children back to their parents or states of origin to minimise their exposure to the disease that has infected over 3 million people across the world.

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health announced on Monday, April 27, 2020 that five of the almajiri children sent to the state from Kano were infected.

“The new cases are among almajirai who were recently repatriated from Kano.

“The contacts of the new cases are being traced so that they can be monitored and tested if they meet the case definition.

“The new patients have been moved to the Infectious Diseases Control Centre, the state’s premier isolation centre,” the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, said.

The commissioner noted that the state’s testing capacity has improved with two labs accredited by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to conduct COVID-19 tests.

“The Ministry of Health wishes to remind the general public of the importance of hand-washing, personal hygiene, social distancing and the avoidance of large gatherings in helping protect us all from Covid-19. It is important to stay home, stay safe and save lives,” the commissioner said.

Kaduna has now recorded 20 coronavirus cases, including state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently recovered.

Kano has recorded a total of 77 coronavirus cases, the third highest in Nigeria, behind Lagos (731) and the Federal Capital Territory (141).

Nigeria has recorded 1,273 coronavirus cases in 32 states and the FCT, as of April 26.

239 people have recovered, but 40 people have died.