Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has said it cost the state an average of N400,000 to treat a COVID-19 patient.
The governor disclosed this while addressing the National Executive Council meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, in Kaduna, the state capital.
Governor el-Rufai noted that the state was lucky to have recorded less death as a result of complications from COVID-19.
The governor said the N400,000 was as a result of the increasing cost of drugs, feeding, and personal protective equipment for doctors.
Said he, “We have a very high success rate in treating COVID-19 patients.
“Even a 90-year-old person with underlying conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, was treated successfully in the state.
“The virus has not left us. We may ignore it but it is still there. We urge you to sensitise our people to protect themselves against this virus, particularly those that are above the age of 60.
“It costs about N400,000 to treat one COVID-19 patient. They have to be isolated and fed.
“The cost of medicine has increased, even the personal protective equipment that the doctors treating them have to wear.
“When you add all these up, the average cost of treatment is over N400,000 per person. We have to bear the cost,” Governor el-Rufai said.