As part of efforts to contain the dreaded Coronavirus, the Ogun State Government says the State will be locked down totally on Friday, in line with the directive of the Federal government.
The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated this at a press conference and inauguration of the 128 bed COVID-19 Isolation Centres at Ikenne in Ikenne Local Government Area of the State.
He noted that the State Government has requested from the Presidency to shift the total lock down date to Friday, to enable government prepare adequate palliatives for the people.
"We are making efforts to give some palliatives to our people. We will do this by creating food banks to store food items like yam, carry, rice, tomatoes and the like, to be distributed to our people, especially, the poor and vulnerable in all parts of the State. We are working out a proper distribution method, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Community leaders and Community Development Councils.
"We will also give some financial palliatives to our transporters, who will not be able to move, as a result of the lockdown. I want to say, however, that the palliatives will cut party lines. There will be no APC or PDP, as the Virus does not know any party affiliations. During this period, market women can sell their goods in front of their houses", the Governor clarified.
He appreciated the Ministry of Education from coming out with e- learning platform, where students are taught from homes using the television, adding that a Biomedical Laboratory would be established to fast track treatment of the Virus, while a tele- medicine platform would be launched to enable people access health care without going to the hospital during the lockdown.
Prince Abiodun while trying to allay the people’s fear disclosed that the pandemic situation in the State was not critical, nevertheless, government has ordered 20 Ventilators and procured more Ambulance to confront the Virus headlong.
He said the State was the first with the largest Isolation and treatment centres in the country, made up of 21 bedded facility at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, 100 at State hospital, Iberekodo, Abeokuta and 128 bedded facility at Ikenne.
The Governor said over 100,000 bottles of hand sanitiser has been produced by the State government for distribution to the people, just as a Security Task Force has been put in place to enforce the lockdown.
While commending the Federal Government, individuals and Corporate bodies for their efforts at tackling the pandemic, the Governor called on retired health workers from both public and private sectors and other volunteers to come out and assist Government, adding that all markets and motor parks in the State would be fumigated.
Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, described the Virus as a pandemic that should be tackle with all seriousness its deserves, appreciating various partners, health workers and donors for their supports in containing the Virus.
The representatives of the World Health Organization, Dr. Sunday abidoye and Dr. Oladipo Ogunbode of the National Centre for Disease Control, in their remarks, lauded the State for its pro-activeness and adherence to their suggestions, adding that measures so far taken by the State government would go a long way in containing the disease in the State.
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