Dr Mohammed Kawu, Acting Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, has been discharged from the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, after he tested negative for COVID-19.

Kawu disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital.

The Acting Secretary had announced that he and some members of his family contracted the disease about two weeks ago.

Kawu recounting his experience as a COVID-19 patient, said he had moderate to severe symptoms.

“I developed chest infection, so I had to be on antibiotics for some days. But thank God, myself and members of my family do not have the symptoms any more and we have been discharged from the isolation centre,”he said.

He said the final tests conducted on them returned negative which prompted their discharge.

The acting secretary, however, warned against stigmatising victims of the disease.

“Even me, I was not spared. I heard that people around the neighborhood where I live were spreading the news in fear. So we need to really work on the stigma issue,” he said.

Kawu reiterated that COVID- 19 was real, adding that anybody could be infected, warning that the disease could be fatal.

“It is important that everyone follows all the extant guidelines of hand washing or sanitising, maintain social distancing wearing of facial covering and staying at home”, he said.

The Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr Mohammed Kawu has tested positive for COVID-19.

Kawu, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the Asokoro District Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, his journey to the isolation center began 12 days ago when he started experienced feverish conditions.

” The feverish condition prompted me to go for COVID-19 test which turned out to be positive,” he said.

Kawu said it was very important for Nigerians to appreciate that COVID-19 was real and could be fatal.

“I want every Nigerians, like I have always advice them in the media, that COVID-19 is real and anybody can be infected, especially those of us that are on the frontline.

” The disease can be fatal and it is important that everyone follows all the extant guidelines of hand washing or sanitizing, maintain social distancing wearing of facial covering and staying at home,” Kawu said.

He said that the major drawback for front line health workers was infecting members of their families at home.

The FCTA health secretary said that his family members who are infected are also being managed within the FCT system.

“I am happy and I thank my creator that mine was moderate infection. I got some symptoms that were not very severe.

” I had to be on intravenous (IV) drugs for about 10 days. I’m stronger now. Probably they will discharge me anytime soon.

” I noticed very important thing; there is so much commitment by the health workers, they are very committed, very patriotic. They are risking their lives to protect the society,” Kawu said.

He appealed to all Nigerians to be involve in the fight against the COVID-19.

He, hwever, urged everybody to take personal responsibility to ensure protection of their family.

Kawu called on COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at Isolation and Treatment Center to observe all extant guidelines to tame the spread of the disease.

FCT has seven isolation and treatment centers across the territory, out of which six of them are public facilities while one is privately managed.