As Nigeria race against time to curtail the spread of the deadly Coronavirus Disease, (COVID-19), Delta State is raising the bar to stop the spread of the threatening monster to the state, the implementation of the state’s ‘stay at home’ order takes full effect and relevant agencies and individuals within Delta have taken steps to hype on the need for residents of the state to comply with the government directive.
One of such persons who have been visibly active in reaching out to Deltans on the good side of the stay at home measure, is Dr. Michael Nwoko, the Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Health Monitoring. He is also a member of the state’s COVID-19 Border Enforcement Committee.
On Monday March 30, he was a guest of the NTA Asaba and today 1st April, the young dynamic Doctor was at the Bridge FM Station Asaba to appeal to the residents of the State to comply with the stay at home directives of the government.
The SSA also visited Alifekede and Idumuje Ugboko boarder posts to monitor the enforcement of the boarder closure order of the government and ensure that Health workers were deployed to the borders to conduct necessary checks on persons who are conveying food items, beverages etc…into the State as they are exempted from the lock down.
At Bridge FM Asaba, Dr. Nwoko, who made appearance on an enlightenment program of the station, said, ‘I am here to appeal to all Deltans and residents of the State to comply with the government stay at home order.
The stay at home directive has become necessary to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to the State and to make it possible to identify suspects for testing and treatment.’
‘I am aware that this measure which placed strict restrictions on internal and interstate movements, and halt commercial activities is surely going to make life tough for us all, but it is the sacrifice we all have to bear to stay safe from the dreaded global pandemic disease.’
Explaining further, Dr Nwoko said, ‘when people stay at home the risk of contracting the virus would be curtailed because we are limiting ourselves from contracting the virus from those who are already infected.
He also added, ‘proper hygiene, which includes hand sanitizing with alcohol based sanitizers, regular washing of hands with soap under running water, social distancing if one must go out. But the most important thing to do at the moment is to adhere to the order to stay at home and stay safe.’
The SSA equally admonished the people not to panic as there is no outbreak of the virus in the State yet, while maintaining that the State is combat ready to contain any possible outbreak of the virus.
In a related development, Dr Michael Nwoko has assured Deltans and residents of the State that His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State is leaving no stone unturned to ensuring that the coronavirus does not spread to the State and added that the Governor through the State Ministry of Health and emergency Operation Centre as well as the Border closure enforcement committee has taken proactive actions to contain any possible outbreak of the pandemic in the State.
The SSA stated this while fielding questions from NTA Asaba reporters who visited him in his office on Monday 30th March.
Dr. Nwoko stated, ‘as I speak to you, take aside Lagos State, which has recorded outbreak of the virus, Delta State is leading in the fight against COVID-19.
His Excellency is leaving no stone unturned to curtail the spread of the disease to the State.’
‘The Governor has taken proactive steps to ensure that possible outbreak of the disease is contained.
Delta State has treatment and holding bays at FMC, Asaba, Specialist Hospital, Asaba, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Central Hospital, Warri as well as holding bays at the Zonal Hospitals across the State.’ He concluded.