LJuly 22, 2020
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on health monitoring, Dr. Michael Nwoko has reiterated that Government alone cannot curtail the spread of Coronavirus scourge in the state.
He therefore urged Delta residents to take actions to keep themselves safe by adhering to the safety protocols as announced by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr. Nwoko was speaking, when he featured on Delta Broadcasting Service Radio Program ‘Frank Talk’ an audience participation program anchored by Edward Akpati Ogwude, on Tuesday, July 22.
The program focused on ‘ the status of Covid-19 in Delta State and efforts to curtail the pandemic.’
Giving insight on the issue, the SSA said, “Delta State has continued to flattened the curve in terms of numbers of cases on admission and discharged cases. We have a total number of 1428 confirmed cases as at this moment, and 759 active cases on admission with over 630 discharged cases and 39 recorded deaths.”
“Oshimili South remains the epicenter with 453, followed by Warri South with 177, Uvwie 163, Sapele 136, Ughelli 126, Oshimili North 113 and so on. So far the State has conducted about 5,550 tests and we have 99% contact tracing success rate and the rapid response team had received over 9000 calls from residents.” Dr Nwoko stated.
Dr. Nwoko added,
“enforcement is being carried out in places like bars, night clubs and hotels as well as among commercial bus drivers and Keke riders.
Am aware that the state and local government authorities are adopting stringent measures to enforce compliance in market places and shops.
The last time we discussed on this issue, I recall informing us that the commissioner for information has stated that govt is working out measures to enforce compliance, we are dealing with human beings and I believe our advocacy and sensitisation on the need for the people to adjust their behavioral and cultural and belief system is the best way to handle the issue but unfortunately we still have a lot of persons out there who believe the COVID-19 does not exist, some say it once existed but have gone away, others say the virus exists only in Europe and America but does not exist in Nigeria.”
“How do you convince persons with such mindsets to comply with safety protocol? This is the task we are contending with.
“Anchorman, the Governor had repeatedly pleaded with the people on the need to take the issues of adhering to safety measures seriously”.
Dr. Nwoko said, Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, being a medical Doctor understands the enormity of pandemic, and has been on top of the situation.
Beside providing the necessary infrastructure and training personnel to handle cases, he has been calling on Deltans and residents of the State to take responsibility for their personal safety by complying with NCDC safety protocols.
“The people should be wise enough to heed the governor’s calls. People do not need to be sent to prison before they adhere to the safety protocols.
“We believed in advocacy and sensitising the people, this should be the collective efforts of all because Government cannot do it alone. The people must be involved to stem the spread of the pandemic.
“I believe local government councils should enforce compliance at business centres, markets and other places of interest. The most important message here is that as much as government is doing her best to curtail the spread, the people must play their part for their personal safety and the safety of their loved ones.
“We must all accept the fact that coronavirus is real and in following laid down safety protocols to safeguard ourselves against the pandemic, we must adjust our social life and culture to contend with the novel virus ” Dr. Nwoko said.