Tallen restates adherence to COVID-19 guidelines to reduce risk

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen on Monday stressed the need for adherence to COVID-19 guidelines to reduce risk and its prevalence in the country.

Tallen, gave this advice in Abuja during a ceremony organised by the ministry’s staff and management to celebrate her recovery after testing negative for COVID-19 following treatment at an isolation centre.

It was reported that the minister had on Dec. 27, 2020, disclosed her COVID-19 status on her Twitter handle, but was declared negative after being treated for the disease on Dec. 31.

According to her, the experience had further heightened her faith in God and also showed that the pandemic was real and could happen to anyone.

“COVID-19 is real and we must take precautionary measures to stay safe,’’ she said.

The minister expressed commitment to promoting speedy and healthy development of women toward national development, and promoting the rights of the vulnerable in society.

The Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Adewumi Onanuga said it was the good deeds of the minister to women and children that made her recover speedily without any devastating effects.

Onanuga, further reiterated her commitment towards supporting the ministry to achieve its mandates.

The Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Mrs Ekpere-Eta, said Nigerian women prayed for the recovery of the minister to enable her continue the good deeds she has been doing for them.

Ekpere-Eta added that the NCWD would continue to implement programmes targeted at women empowerment.

On her part, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Anthonia Akpabio-Ekpa expressed optimism that the ministry would continue to advance the development of Nigerian women and rights of the child.

It was reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report as at Jan. 24 showed 964 confirmed new cases, with 97,228 discharged persons and 1,504 deaths.