States across the country are taking more steps to stop the touring COVID -19 virus from entering their domain write ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE, JAMES ANAZIA, OZIEGBE OKOEKI and TONY AKOWE
Several states across the federation on Tuesday unveiled plans to prevent and contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in their respective states.
The states, which include Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Bauchi among others, and other stakeholders took the campaigns for personal hygiene especially regular washing of hands under running water, use of sanitisers, and healthy eating as some of the surest ways to prevent exposure to the dreaded virus presently touring the globe.
Prayers to the rescue
The moves come just as the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese Bishop Martins Uzuokwu, has urged Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and political differences to pray against the spread of the virus in the country. He said only divine intervention can prevent the spread of the virus.
Looming economic meltdown
From Abuja, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed fear that the dreaded virus will disrupt global supply chain.
President of the ACCI Adetokunbo Kayode who made the observation when Chamber played host to the European Union led by Gianioca Russo of Q and T in Abuja, stating that the ongoing disruptions which is already affecting the big economies may soon start affecting small and medium scales (SMEs).
He said; “presently COVID-19 is creating a challenge that may affect economic growth in many African countries. That China is slowing down implies commodity and oil exporting nations are going to be hard hit.”
Kayode noted that several reports from ACCI members within and outside the country confirm that the peak of the impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains will occur by mid-March, forcing thousands of companies to throttle down or temporarily shut assembly and manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Europe.
Eat more fruits, vegs
In Lagos, a dietician says eating of fruits, vegetables remain one surest way to reduce risks of contacting the dreaded disease, boost immunity and guarantee wellness.
The nutritionist Mrs Bushra Adefalu, Head, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Isolo General Hospital, Lagos, advised Nigerians to shun unhealthy eating habits that could complicate their health status and embrace eating vitamin-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables to boost their immune system.
“Eating fruits energizes the body, promotes weight loss and makes the skin to shine,” she said.
Lagos sensitises religious leaders
Religious leaders in Lagos under the auspices of Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC) were also educated and sensitized on the outbreak of coronavirus in the state and measures to check its spread.
The programme which was organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs took place at the Chapel of Christ the Light Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.
In attendance were, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos, Prof. Alexander Bamgbola; representative of the Chief Imam, Imam Gafar Mofesaye, representative of state NIREC, Bishop Adegbite, Alhaja Sobajo, CAN Lagos secretary, Akin Aduwo, representative of Islamic Institute, Alhaji Suenu, resident chaplain, Christ the Light, Olu Oyadokun.
Others are Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on religion, Rev. Bukola Adeleke, permanent secretary, ministry of home affairs and environment, Adewunmi Adekanye and Belinda Oteneye, GM, LASEMA, Akinsola Olatunde, Director, Directorate of Epidermology, Abdulsalaam, Director of Disease Control, GM Biobank, Dr. Akinwale Bankole.
School’s Advocacy
As part of efforts aimed at getting the messages of personal hygiene to the grassroots, some schools in Lagos have started implementing preventive measures to protect their pupils and students against contracting the infectious diseases.
Checks in some public and private schools in Surulere, Ebute Meta, Apapa, Ikorodu and other areas of Lagos State, revealed that most of the schools had started adhering hand wash and other preventive measures against the infectious disease.
A parent, Mrs Bidemi Adesanya, said she resorted to ensuring that her children always have hand sanitisers in their school bags, with instruction that they must use it often.
Adesanya urged school proprietors to invest in hand sanitisers for each classroom, saying that the sanitiser should be placed in the custody of class teachers and used appropriately for the pupils.
Council spread awareness
The Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Council Area of Lagos State, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, has called on residents, parents and guardians in the area, to educate their children and wards on the virus, and the need to strictly adhere to all prescribed preventive measures to stipulated by the World Health Organisation(WHO).
He said this becomes necessary as the task of creating awareness and preventing the spread of the menace cannot be left to the can alone.
According to Oke, while measures are being taken to contain the disease in the local government area, all public and private health institutions are to be cautious about anyone who presents with fever, cough, cold, difficulty in breathing, diarrhoea and body pains and report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
Kogi gears up
The Kogi State government said it has put in place measures to protect the people of the state against the dreaded virus.
The government said the health ministry in collaboration with the information and communication, education and transport ministries, will map out strategies to protect residents in the state and Nigerians in general against the raging Coronavirus.
The statement signed by Dorothy Onoja, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, in the ministry of health, quoted the commissioner, Dr. Saka Haruna, as giving the assurance at a stakeholders’ meeting, in Lokoja, the capital.
Katsina partners Red Cross
In Katsina State, the government said it is partnering the Red Cross Society of Nigeria and other Non- governmental organisations in the state to checkmate the spread of the deadly corona virus through sensitisation workshops, awareness campaigns and other forms of mobilisations in the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Health, Engineer Yakubu Danja who disclosed this in his office in Katsina said the state government is already aware of the outbreak of the disease globally and also the recent confirmed case in Lagos and is poised to sensitise the people and adequately check its spread.
He said ”the ministry of health and all the relevant stakeholders are well positioned to ensure people are adequately sensitised about the COVID-19 and to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to prevent the spread of the disease in the state”
Anambra lawmakers express worry
But in Anambra State, the state’s Assembly have expressed worries over state’s preparedness, summoning the Commissioners for Health, and Information and Public Enlightenment, to appear before it on the state’s level of preparedness to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
The Commissioners are: Dr Vincent Okpala (Health) and Mr C-Don Adinuba, (Information and Public Enlightenment).
The resolution followed a motion moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Dr Nnamdi Okafor, the House Majority Leader.
Okafor, representing Awka South l, said there was need to ensure adequate preparation and robust response in the state, should a case be detected. “Another question is, are there any emergency phone lines if someone presents with symptoms of the disease?”
Bauchi intensifies surveillance
The Bauchi State Government said it has intensified surveillance at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi, motorparks and the Yankari Games Reserves as well as the mininig areas in the state following the outbreak of the novel virus in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the government engaged in the proactive step to combat the spread after the confirmation of the virus in Lagos.
The Commissioner explained that the measures also include urgent improvement of the standard of the state Isolation Centers at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospiral (ATBUTH) IDHE and creating additional hold rooms at the Specialist Hospital Bauchi in case of any eventuality.
Chinese abandons work in Imo
Chinese contractors hired by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State to execute road projects were nowhere to be seen yesterday at the sites, our investigation revealed.
They have been off the road since the index case of the virus broke out in Lagos.
The Chinese national working for the Chec Engineering were not seen when the Nation visited some of the sites in the state.
Some of the workers interviewed said that they have not seen the Chinese workers at the sites for the past five days.
Our investigation revealed that the Chinese who were supervising the Ihiagwa- Nekede Polytechnic Road, Owerri-Aba and Akachi roads deserted the sites when the case of the virus went viral.
Meanwhile, Imo indigenes have expressed worry about the presence of the Chinese workers in the state since the virus started in China.
However, the state government assured the people that they are monitoring the situation closely.
Speaking, the Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Austin Ukaechi said that the duty of the government was to monitor the point of entry of other nationals into the state.
Preventive measures on in Kwara
Kwara State Government said it has activated all relevant preventive measures to guide against outbreak of Corona Virus and Lassa Fever in the state.
It urged residents to increase their personal hygiene and report any illness in the nearest health centre.
Health Commissioner Dr Raji Razaq told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, adding that the state has beefed up preparedness and capabilities since the first confirmation of the case in China and will use all the resources available to the state to ensure that COVID-19 is prevented in Kwara State.
Razaq said the state has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to prevent any outbreak of the disease comprising various ministries and agencies of the State and Federal Government, especially the Port Health Services and the Nigerian Immigration Services to ensure effective surveillance at all points of entry at the borders.
Razaq also debunked claims on social media that the state has recorded some cases of Lassa fever, clarifying that the cases so reported were in a neighbouring community in Benin Republic which shares borders with Kwara’s Baruten Local Government.
Stop spreading fake news – LUTH official
Meanwhile a medical expert from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, has Nigerians warned against the spreas of fake news on the rampaging virus.
Adeyemo, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), of the teaching hospital said there was no need to “press the panic button” as efforts were ongoing by responsible and designated government agencies to prevent the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
He said that LUTH was able to curtail the spread of Lassa fever because it was prepared for it and its frontline staff had high level of suspicion when the index case was presented at the hospital.
“The best lesson we have learnt in LUTH is to always have a high index of suspicion all the time, especially during outbreaks like this.
“We will also organise Hospital Grand Round this week to give information about what LUTH’s staff members need to know about COVID-19,” he said.
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