The Nigerian military is ensuring that Nigerians resident in Abuja get hand sanitizers for free
The military through the National Defence College clinic has been giving our the hand sanitizers since Nigeria recorded its first case of coronavirus
Many stores in the Nigerian capital had hiked the prices of hand sanitizers and face masks in the last few days
As Nigerians make efforts to stay hygienic over the coronavirus outbreak, a Nigerian military hospital in the nation’s capital, Abuja is giving out free hand-sanitizers to residents.
The National Defence College clinic in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has been handing out the sanitizers to people for free.
This is as many stores in the city hiked the prices of hand sanitizers and face masks in the last few days.
Nigeria had recorded its first case of coronavirus on Thursday, February 27.
The case is an Italian citizen visiting from Milan, Italy visiting a factory in Ogun state via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
He has since been quarantined, while health authorities in the country have assured Nigerians that they are on top of the situation.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised people to use contactless technology instead of cash as there are fears that banknotes may be spreading coronavirus.
“We would advise people to wash their hands after handling banknotes, and avoid touching their face,” a WHO spokesperson said.
Chinese and Korean authorities have already begun disinfecting and isolating used banknotes as part of efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Both countries are the worst hit so far since the outbreak of the viral disease.
A Brazilian scientists, who is among those that concluded coronavirus DNA sequencing, inserts a tube into a portable device connected to a computer that decodes virus DNA, at the Tropical Medicine Institute of the São Paulo University Medical School in Brazil on March 2.
Similarly, experts say face masks are not effective in preventing the dreaded coronavirus.
Dr Hend Al Awadhi, head of health promotion and education section at the Dubai Health Authority’s Public Health Protection Department in the United Arab Emirates, said face masks may do more harm than good.
“People at a higher risk of contracting the disease, are those who have been in contact with a person who is confirmed to have Covid-19 or those who have travelled to certain countries where there has been a significant outbreak,” she said.
“If I have to make a choice, I will keep my hands clean, I will use hand sanitizer, I will wash my hands with soap and water. I would cough into my sleeve, I will ensure that I, you know, when I touch surfaces, that I wash my hands after.”
Michael Ryan, the executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme
In a related development, hundreds of international flights have been cancelled due to the outbreak of coronavirus as many international airlines have seen bookings slump because of concerns over the viral disease.
Two of the United Kingdom’s biggest airlines have announced hundreds more flight cancellations due to the disease. While Ryanair is cutting its timetable by a quarter, British Airways has called off more than 400 journeys.
