COVID-19: Wase urges PTF to engage youth in production of ventilators

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has urged the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 to engage Nigerian youth who have exhibited the capacity to produce ventilators to help in treating coronavirus patients.

Speaking at an interactive session between the leadership of the National Assembly and members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID 19 at the National Assembly, Wase said there are a lot of talented Nigerians who are capable of producing the ventilators the country needs during the pandemic.

He cited the case of William Gyang and Nuhu Jibril, engineers based in Jos, Plateau state, who volunteered and fixed two broken down ventilators at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The deputy speaker said with the relevant support and encouragement from the federal government, the likes of the duo will provide the needed ventilators the country needs to treat patients.

“I watched the video with nostalgia of how some young Nigerians from Jos were able to put back broken down ventilators back to use and ironically, they said they have never seen the machines before,” he said.

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“They (also) assured that with support from government, they can produce the machine,” he added.

Wase appealed to the federal government to engage local talents among Nigerians on the production and maintenance of ventilators, adding that the country currently requires more ventilators to meet the high demand.