By Frank Iroroh.
As Delta State Government announced further extension of the COVID-19 lockdown order in the state by two weeks more, in order to effectively contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus, one of the most dynamic aides to the Governor, Dr. Michael Nwoko, the Senior Special Assistant (Health Monitoring) and member, Covid-19 Lockdown Enforcement Committee, has been on media tour, visiting Radio and Television stations in Asaba, to urge all residents of the state, to continue cooperating with government in their efforts to keep everyone safe from the global pandemic.
While encouraging all to exercise patience as the state battle to contain the deadly virus, the SSA said that acting otherwise would prove that the sacrifice of the people in the past two weeks were in futility.
Dr. Nwoko maintained that no government would lockdown a state for no genuine reason, but that prevailing circumstances around the world are compelling enough to warrant such decision.
Speaking on COVID-19 enlightenment programs on DBS and Bridge FM radio and also in an interview with NTA, Asaba, on Tuesday April 14, Dr. Nwoko said: ‘I am using this medium to appeal to all residents of Delta State to continue to cooperate with government to ensure the State overcomes COVID-19 and return to normalcy. We must hang on a little while health workers deployed for effective contact surveillance intensify efforts to identify persons who may have made contact with those already infected with COVID-19. Not adhering to the precautionary lockdown order of the government as extended by 2 more weeks, shows our past 2 weeks of sacrifice will be an exercise in futility as no Government enjoys the pleasure of locking down a State for the sake of doing it. It is a critical decision taken in the best interest of all residents of the State’
.He emphasized.
Dr. Nwoko further commended health personnel all over the State, both those at the border posts and at the isolation/treatment centres, for their sacrifice and commitment to duty. ‘I want to encourage you to always adhere to COVID-19 protocol as you carry out your duties.’ He added.
The SSA also commended the security personnel enforcing the lockdown order in the State and adviced them to apply high degree of civility in carrying out their assignment.
Meanwhile Dr. Nwoko has stated that the setting up of mobile Courts in the three senatorial districts of the State to handle cases relating to violation of the lockdown order, is to demonstrate the seriousness of government to ensure total compliance with the stay at home order. Dr. Nwoko stated this while speaking on the State of the Nation – COVID-19 pandemic, on Morning Ride Program of Delta Broadcasting Service Television, Asaba on Tuesday 14th April.
His words, ‘His Excellency is very worried about the spread of the disease in the State and he is doing everything within his powers to contain the spread.
The setting up of the three Courts, one in each of the three senatorial districts of the State, to try those who flout the stay at home order, is one of the measures government has adopted to enforce compliance.
So far about two hundred violators of the order have been prosecuted.’
Dr. Nwoko further stated that the responsibility of ensuring full compliance with the lockdown order should not be left for government alone, adding that individuals, groups and corporate bodies should join in the effort.
The SSA informed that the State government on it’s part has perfected measures to alleviate the hardship of residents, through the establishment of food bank and had put in necessary mechanism to ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives to all those in need across the State.
In the mean time the SSA Health Monitoring and member COVID-19 Lockdown Enforcement Committee, Dr. Michael Nwoko and his team again visited the Onitsha Bridge border on Monday 13th April, as he Commences another round of border monitoring exercise.
He met with the DPO, Onitsha Bridge police Station, and they both discussed strategy to ensure effective synergy between the police and the health team at the border aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Nwoko further commended the health team and also encouraged them to put in more efforts, noting that the State was already on red alert following the outbreak of the deadly virus in the State adding that “TOGETHER WE CAN STOP COVID-19”