NATIONAL INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19
Guideline · Health
Guidelines provide protocols for diagnosing, triaging, and treating COVID-19 patients in Nigerian health facilities. They target doctors, nurses, and emergency staff. This standardizes care to optimize outcomes and protect workers.
NATIONAL INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19
What Is This Policy?
Clinical guidelines providing healthcare workers with interim protocols for the diagnosis, triage, management, and treatment of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients in Nigerian health facilities.
Who Does It Target?
Doctors, nurses, and clinical staff in public and private hospitals Emergency medical services personnel Isolation and treatment centre operators Public health practitioners
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Standardise clinical care for COVID-19 patients across Nigeria, optimise patient outcomes, protect healthcare workers, and prevent nosocomial transmission within health facilities.
Key Features
Case Definitions and Triage: Defines suspected, probable, and confirmed cases and outlines triage protocols for rapid identification at facility entry points. Treatment Protocols: Provides evidence-based guidance on supportive care, oxygen therapy, and management of severe and critical cases. Infection Prevention and Control: Sets out Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, hand hygiene standards, and isolation protocols for healthcare settings. Discharge Criteria: Specifies the clinical and testing criteria that must be met before a patient may be discharged from isolation.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Rolled out through state ministries of health and teaching hospitals Coverage: All public and private healthcare facilities nationwide Beneficiaries: COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers Funding: Federal Ministry of Health; international donor support
How to Access
Healthcare workers should access guidelines through the NCDC or hospital administration Training and orientation to be conducted by facility infection control officers Application method: Download from the NCDC website or request copies through state health authorities.
Important Terms
Guidelines are interim and subject to revision as evidence evolves Compliance with PPE requirements is mandatory for all treating staff Deviations must be clinically justified and documented
Official Resources
Website: https://www.ncdc.gov.ng Contact: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) / Federal Ministry of Health
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Establishment Act 2018, the Quarantine Act Cap Q2 LFN 2004, and the Emergency Economic Stabilisation Act 2020. Draws on WHO COVID-19 interim clinical guidance, the International Health Regulations 2005, and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 directives.