COVID-19: Akeredolu stresses readiness for eventuality, inspects facility

By Adekola Afolabi
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Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said the state government is ready for  any case of Coronavirus, even as  he  prayed against the virus in the state.

The governor gave the assurance while inspecting a purpose-built Infectious Diseases centre in Akure, the  state capital.

The facility was built by the previous administration as a testing and isolation centre for infectious diseases, and was upgraded with equipments by the present administration for diseases such as Lassa fever, Ebola virus and others.

Akeredolu also inspected a new laboratory built by his administration for the purpose of testing people.

During the inspection, the governor, however, prayed that the Coronavirus would not enter the state.

“The essence of taking you round this facility is to let our people in the state know that we are ready for any eventuality that has to do with Coronavirus. We have upgraded this facility to standard. And everybody can be rest assured that we are ready.

“Although, a number of other things still needed to be done. But I want to assure you that everything would be taken care of,” the governor stressed.

Akeredolu particularly urged the people to minimize contact for now, advising that they should always wash their hands, and use sanitizers regularly.

Coronavirus which originated from the Wuhan province in China, was first detected on December 31, 2019, and has claimed over 3,080 lives so far.

“Although we met this building here, we had to build this laboratory for us to be able to test people. It is a purpose built Laboratory. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has helped us in putting some things together here.

“I have said our commissioner and a few of our people are going to Lagos to learn about protocol and management. Not that they don’t know, but we just need to do that so that they can learn new things.

“When we get to Lagos, we are going to talk to international donor agencies to help us with some other things we need here.

“My friend in Lagos has made me understand that the Canadian Government assisted in equipping their own facility,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, said the state health workers have been well trained to handle that might break out various infectious diseases in the state.

He said that the laboratory and the upgraded facility in the centre showed the preparedness of the state government.

“The state government has put in place all necessary measures to guard against the disease, and in any eventuality, to diagnose and do the needful,” the Commissioner added.