COVID-19: OGUN ROLES OUT SPECIAL WELFARE PACKAGE FOR HEALTH WORKERS, UNFOLDS NEW MEASURES

  As part of efforts aimed at combating the Coronavirus in Ogun State, a special welfare package has been put in place for front line health workers, who are exposed to the deadly virus in the course of treating their patients.

          The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated this while updating newsmen on the fight against COVID-19 at his Iperu home in Ikenne Local Government Area of the State.

          The Governor said new measures adopted to curb the spread of the disease included, identifying and enrolling of specific private hospitals as incident and first responders, to check people of symptoms and report to epidemiologists for prompt action.

          He noted that staff of such private health facilities would be trained on COVID-19 management and provided with personal protective equipment, saying this would complement the over 500 government health facilities available in providing services to the people.

          According to the Governor, "we have concluded plans to take possession of a Mobile Testing Laboratory to complement the fixed one at OOUTH, Sagamu. The mobile laboratory will be sent across the State and deployed in areas with large population and random testing carried out to access the prevalent rate in the State.

          "We are establishing dry throat testing facility, where people can visit and be tested. This will help us in identifying the positives that we have in the State", he noted.

          The Governor who revealed that the State has two new cases, residing in Obafemi -Owode and Yewa South Local Government Areas, said with the new cases, the number has risen to six from the first Case, of which three have been discharged and one was responding to treatment and was in the verge of being discharged.

          Commenting on the distribution of relief food items, which started over the weekend, Prince Abiodun applauded the people for their peaceful conduct, emphasising that, the items were meant for the elderly, the poor and vulnerable. 

          "I want to enjoin those who have not received to be patience. The exercise is an on-going process and in phases. A pack is meant for a household and not for a street, group or Community Development Association", he clarified.

          The Governor, while speaking against politicising efforts at containing the Virus, maintained that government was battling with a pandemic that was causing havoc all over the world.

          "We are battling with a pandemic that is sweeping the whole world. This is not time for politics, it is not time for games; it is not a time to throw political yaps. We will not be distracted by those who are bent on distracting us", Prince Abiodun vowed.

          He urged the people to protect themselves and their communities against the dreaded virus, by observing all the guidelines, avoid care free attitude, while constantly having it in mind that ‘’COVID-19 is real, is in the State and no respecter of location or social status’’.

          Commending health workers for putting their lives on the line, the Governor acknowledged their uncommon commitment, vigilance and professionalism, saying that his administration would continue to review measures and strengths preparedness on regular basis, to combat the Virus.