The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has described as false circulating in the social media that its Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has been ‘quarantined’ over the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement made available to Sunrise News on Wednesday, the NCDC claimed its boss a member of the high powered delegation of the World Health Organisation (WHO), had left for China on an eight day fact finding mission between February 16th and 24th 2020.
“The joint mission had 25 national and international experts, including the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu. He also made this known via his Twitter account https://twitter.com/chikwe_i/status/1233862464917385217?s=21.
“The Mission met with counterparts in China to understand their response to COVID-19 and how the global community can learn from this. As recommended in NCDC’s public health advisory, travelers from countries with ongoing transmission of COVID-19 are advised to proceed on 14-day self-isolation, whether well or unwell (https://ncdc.gov.ng/news/234/29th-february-2020%7C-public-health-advisory-tonigerians-on-novel-coronavirus-%28%234%29).The Director General has adhered to this, to protect himself and the public.”
He has been tested since his return, and has shown no symptoms of COVID-19 infection. He remains in good health.
The Minister of Health is very proud of Dr Ihekweazu’s contribution, which reflects the high-level recognition and respect the global health community has for Nigeria.