We ‘ll continue to fight  epidemics, NYSC assures

From Jimoh Ahmed, Ikare Akoko.
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The management of the National Youth Service Corps will continue to take proactive measures to wage unrelenting and aggressive war against any epidemic ravaging the society.

 The NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio disclosed this while welcoming a delegation of health officials from Ondo State Ministry of Health who were on camp to sensitise corps members on Lassa fever and Coronavirus.

 Akpabio told the medical team from Epidemiology Department of the Health Ministry that the Scheme has provided safety measures and embarked on far reaching actions in order to guard against the contraction of the deadly virus by corps members right at the commencement of the orientation course.

 She outlined such steps taken to include the provision of infrared thermometers, hand sanitisers, face mask, wash hand basins as well as antiseptic soaps in all the State Secretariats and at strategic locations at orientation camps nationwide.

 She disclosed thatsensitisation leaflets on Lassa fever and Coronavirus have been shared to all the 2020 Batch ‘A’ (Stream 1) corps members currently in camp so as to give them requisite information on the viruses and how to adequately contain it and prevent infection.

 The NYSC State Coordinator while thanking the Ministry for playing supportive roles by lending technical support to the Scheme charged the corps members not to see the sensitisation as an avenue to seek relocation outside Ondo State

The Deputy Director in the Ministry and also the team leader from the Epidemiology Department, Mrs. Adeola Ogunbiyi, said the sensitisation is not to scare the corps members but to let them know the gospel truth about Lassa fever and Coronavirus.

Mrs Adeola enjoined the corps members to display high sense of responsibility during the programme which she described as beneficial and life saving.

 Explaining the steps to avoid contraction, the Assistant State Epidemiologist, Dr. Gbelela Dolani advised the corps members to regularly and thoroughly clean their environment to prevent spread of the virus.

 Dr. Dolani urged the corps members to practice respiratory hygiene by covering their mouths and noses with tissue whenever they cough or sneeze, then dispose off the used tissue immediately and properly.

 He encouraged them to apply hand sanitiser often and use face mask as the viruses cannot be seen with ordinary eyes.

 On Lassa fever, the medical practitioner said many people are contacting the epidemic as a result of ignorance and that the researchers and scientists are still developing vaccines to combat it.

 The Epidemiologist disclosed that the government relied much on strengthening measures such as ensuring regular sanitation and advised anyone whose health is being threatened to promptly visit hospital or seek medical attention from competent and licenced medical practitioners.