NIGERIA: COVID-19 Situation Report – #08 Reporting Period: May 9th -15th 2020 Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs Nigeria has witnessed an increase of an average of above one-thousand COVID-19 cases per 1 week, since the week of 18 April when testing across the country increased (see graph ). As of 15 Situation in Numbers May there are 5,162 recorded cases of COVID-19 across the country. Lagos, Kano, Federal Capital Territory, Borno, Gombe, Katsina, Bauchi and Jigawa are responsible for 60 per cent of confirmed cases in the country2. In addition 51 5162 COVID-19 per cent of the confirmed cases are confirmed 3 from 9 local government areas . Of cases (14 May) the total admitted, 1,180 cases have been discharged and 167 deaths have been recorded. 31,702 tests 167 deaths have been carried out across the country with 34 states and the 46,000,000 Federal capital Territory (FCT) Children having reported at least one confirmed case. affected by COVID-19 In Yobe a report of about 471 deaths within five weeks led to an investigation with initial reports revealing that most deaths were of elderly people with pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Bauchi state, on Monday announced a 10-day lockdown on three US$ 65 M areas that border Kano state in a bid to contain the increase in COVID-19 cases, curb rapid funding community transmission and allow for effective contact tracing and testing. In Sokoto state, the required Executive Governor inaugurated a 3,000 volunteer response team made up health workers and commenced distribution of two million face masks to the public. Borno state lifted its lockdown on 13 May stating that the lockdown period was successful in testing and tracing. In addition, 160 Nigerians in United States were repatriated to Nigeria on 10 May. This is part of government’s efforts in aiding stranded Nigerians in other countries. Similar returns have been done from the United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. Returnees are quarantined in designated isolation centers for 14 days upon their return. SPOTLIGHT Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, UNICEF, in partnership with the Borno State Agency for Mass Education (SAME), supported an EU-funded technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme. This programme’ s aims were to equip 25,000 youths (15+) with skills and income opportunities through training on key skills including shoemaking, catering, sewing, painting and poultry farming. Target beneficiaries were heads of households, with an emphasis on female-headed households, across six conflict-affected LGAs - Hawal, Gwoza, MMC, Jere, Monguno and Mobbar. During the three-month training period, beneficiaries are provided with monthly stipends to cover their transportation costs. To date over 1,000 youths have been empowered through this programme. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown restrictions the commencement of the second phase of the project was delayed. However, recognizing the shortages in PPEs and other hygiene materials, the project begun production of 40,000 face masks and 12,000 bars of soaps in three TVET centres in Maiduguri. A total of 366 youth, 10 adolescent girls and 24 women head of households are involved in the production. Daily production capacity is 1,500 facemasks and 700 soaps. Safety is ensured at the centres with the provision of face masks, gloves, hand washing facilities as well as social distancing measures. 1 Data for graph from National Center for Diseases Control (NCDC) Sitreps Feb 28-May 14 2 National Center for Diseases Control (NCDC) Sitrep May 14th 2020 3 Presidential Task Force Briefing May 15th The development of the ‘National Lab Scale up UNICEF’s COVID-19 response Strategy’ to optimize all molecular laboratories in the country, including Cobas machines in Abuja and RCCE/C4D Lagos, as well as optimizing one GeneXpert RCCE activities continue to intensify through the machine per statep; sensitization and capacity building of partners in all targeted The coordination and integration of lab reporting states. A mobile messaging campaign was launched in through modeling, forecasting, quantification and communities; vid eo skits on diffe rent key practices distribution; The procurement of test kits and nasopharyngeal including hand washing, tips for staying at home and other swabs. 10,000 Cobas kits have been delivered to key behaviours are actively disseminated through social NCDC; media. A ‘COVID-19 Talk’ radio talk show has been initiated Analysis of a need-based deployment of surge staff in Enugu by all nine radio stations and it will continue for to states to strengthen human resources for eight weeks providing key information and call-in Persons Of Interest monitoring and contact tracing; opportunities. UNICEF in Kaduna supported weekly The development of an inventory of clinical care scheduled talk shows with key resource persons on seven supplies on Google Drive, that is being updated Radio/TV stations and FM Stations. In Kano, UNICEF weekly. This drive also captures weekly updates of health care worker trainings; and supported the RCCE pillar to plan and implement Developing an online self-reporting dashboard that engagement sessions with district heads on COVID-19 will also capture alerts from call centres. prevention and mitigate transmission and the use of public information vans to broadcast COVID-19 information in UNICEF is working with partners on data models for a mid- selected communities and neighbourhoods. COVID-19 level detailed analysis of the outbreak. 68 isolation- jingles continue to be aired on selected radio stations in treatment centers have been accredited in the country Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States. through UNICEF support to the case management pillar. In Sokoto and Bauchi, UNICEF worked with religious focal UNICEF is supporting the State level Training of Trainers on persons and traditional leaders as well as VCMs to sensitize ‘COVID-19 Preparedness and Response at PHC and people in communities and markets and other locations on Community Levels’ organized by the NPHCDA. Virtual TOTs effective handwashing, physical distancing, COVID-19 were conducted this week across the different states. These signs/symptoms, and referral practices. Planning for the master trainers will thereafter conduct step down face-to- Volunteer Ward Supervisor (VWS) and Voluntary face training for PHC teams at LGA level. UNICEF continues Community Mobilizers (VCMs) continues across several to provide ongoing technical support to the state EOCs on states this week. This included the construction of locally COVID-19 response. sponsored handwashing facilities in Taraba in 201 In Ekiti State, UNICEF supported the training of 400 settlements. State and LGA health workers from Public and Private health facilities on Infection, Prevention and Control. North-east C4D response UNICEF Akure is supporting active case search visits In Borno, 42 spots of jingles have been airing weekly in Hausa to health facilities and communities in Akure South and Kanuri languages while mobile announcements are and Owo LGAs noted to be high-risk LGAs. carried out twice a week in 10 LGAs reaching 6,344 Kano FO is supporting Rapid Response Team community members. 3,439 Volunteer Community activities in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States. 88 LGA Mobilisers (VCMs) continued to sensitize small groups of Facilitators have been engaged for active case search in Kano. people and reached 58,221 caregivers in the past week in UNICEF Lagos FO supported IPC assessment of two Borno and Yobe. During the lockdown, VCMs continued to sites as the State Government attempts to expand make wider use of the telephone tree in order to maintain isolation bed capacity. contact with their community families for COVID-19 surveillance; and follow-ups with caregivers on routine North-east Health response immunisation. Religious leaders in Borno and Yobe are In the north-east, UNICEF continues to support and actively actively engaged in the COVID-19 response and 819 religious participate in coordination meetings at the State and LGA leaders were sensitized on COVID-19. levels. UNICEF is also supporting IPC activities, including training of healthcare workers and community resource persons, in UNICEF supported health facilities and host Health communities in Borno and Yobe States. 33 VCMs were UNICEF continues to provide technical support to the sensitized on COVID-19 signs and symptoms and IPC Presidential Task Force and the NCDC. Guidelines on measures for strengthening community response approach. ‘community case definitions’ developed by epidemiology and surveillance pillar with UNICEF’s support have been disseminated to states. This is addition to support for: Nutrition North-east Nutrition response Anambra, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Enugu Gombe Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi, In April, integrated nutrition services were provided in 278 Nasarawa, Niger Sokoto and Zamfara states have continued health facilities and 30,738 SAM children were admitted in providing the community-based management of acute out-patient therapeutic programs (OTP) between March and malnutrition (CMAM) for children 6 -59 months with SAM, in April. 22,338 in Borno (male 3,735, female 18,603) all existing treatment sites per states with COVID-sensitive caregivers were sensitized on COVID-19 infection, modifications as described last week. They continued to prevention and control at OTP sites and communities. To provide SAM children with two weekly supplies and have minimize contact, a two-weeks’ ration of RUTF to all reached a total of 36,077 SAM children since January, beneficiaries was maintained and in support of this, 8444 including 9,195 from April to date. In Anambra, Ebonyi and cartons of RUTF were distributed in Borno (3,624 to UNICEF- Enugu the new SAM admissions was observed to be on the supported sites, 4,141 to partners) and 679 to UNICEF- increase, potientially associated with the COVID-19 supported sites in Yobe. 56,569 caregivers received IYCF outbreak. counselling since March.