The Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has commended the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over his swift response to the containment of the spread of coronavirus disease, since the first index case occurred in the state on 27th February, 2020.
Dr Ihekweazu gave the commendation during his courtesy visit to the governor at his Iperu residence on Tuesday.
Ihekweazu had earlier inspected the state’s molecular laboratory at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the Isolation Centre at Ikenne.
He said his visit to the governor was long overdue in view of the leadership which the governor has been showing in his prompt response to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
Great Achiever Magazine reports that the Director General thanked Governor Abiodun for his personal interest and well thought through efforts and legacy for Ogun State, which justified his insistence on coming to the state.
Ihekweazu warned that coronavirus is not going away in a hurry, because there is no end in sight for risk of infection.
He said while the states can’t be locked down indefinitely because of Nigerians’ love for social interaction as a people, the country can’t go back to the PRE-COVID-19 era.
Ihekweazu urged the state to enlighten the people on the need to change their lifestyle, as there is hope at the end of the tunnel.
He advised that more of the strategies already adopted to curb the spread of coronavirus, such as use of face mask, constant hand washing and social distancing should continue.
Dr Ihekweazu, who commended the willingness of the state to go extra mile in tackling COVID-19, also encouraged Ogun health team to continue working to make its operations seamless.
He therefore promised to support the state in the fight against COVID-19.
In her remarks, the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mrs Fiona Braka, said she was extremely amazed and impressed at steps taken by the state government for having the capacity to take on patients.
She disclosed that there is a lot to do in the country and advised the state to be vigilant in preventive measures because of its status as gateway to other states.
Mrs Braka encouraged the government to continue its efforts to ensure that the state is protected from coronavirus.
The state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his response, thanked the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 for doing a good job.
The governor stated that Lagos state remains the albatross of Ogun State, because what happens in Lagos affects Ogun, explaining that government is ensuring limiting the speed at which Ogun State is negatively impacted by the COVID-19.
Governor Abiodun said that the state has been creative in terms of what to do to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
He disclosed that the isolation centre in Ikenne was put in place within one week, while the state has two other isolation centres at Sagamu and Abeokuta, with capacity for 300 patients.
Abiodun said the compulsory use of face mask will be enforced, as the government has commissioned indigenous tailors to produc, at a huge cost, one million face masks which will be distributed.
He also disclosed that the lockdown will be relaxed so that farmers particularly will not miss out on the planting season.
The governor stated that the money spent on various measures put in place to combat the coronavirus pandemic was through self help, and hoped that the federal government will have a better appreciation of what was done after the visit of the Presidential Task Force.
He also appealed to the PTF to support Ogun State in terms of funding to recover what was spent.
