Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced that a special welfare package will be provided for the frontline health workers who are involved in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus.
The governor made the announcement on Monday, while addressing newsmen on the update on COVID-19 measures, at his Iperu residence.
He said his administration has considered it expedient to unveil new measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, and the welfare of health workers is of paramount importance in the new measures.
Abiodun explained that the health workers need to be compensated for their higher risk of exposure to the deadly virus in the course of providing healthcare to others.
He said : “Our health workers have demonstrated uncommon commitment, vigilance, professionalism and rear sacrifice to rise up to this historic moment.
“We owe them a debt of gratitude and we must put them in our prayers for their own safety in the discharge of their critical duty to save the lives of others.
“However, we must do more than that. This is why we have put together a special welfare package to cover them.
“It does not equate their service, but it is at least a token for them to know we care about them as they go about giving health care to others and provide some succour for them and their families”.
The governor commended the residents of Ogun State for their cooperation, understanding and compliance with the stay at home order which came into effect on Friday, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He disclosed that the lockdown will be lifted on Tuesday, 7th April, from 7am to 2pm, and subsequently every 48hours to allow residents buy food items, drugs, and earn some bit of living, especially for those who earn their living on a daily basis.
The governor emphasised that residents are required to observe social distancing guidelines, wash their hands with soap and water regularly or use a hand sanitizer and wear a face mask when they come out in the public.
He advised those who do not have any pressing need to come out to stay at home, even during the window of suspension of the lockdown.
Governor Abiodun also applauded the orderly conduct of the people during the distribution of relief food items which commenced over the weekend across the state, while emphasising again that the priority target is for the elderly, the poor and the vulnerable households who are expected to receive a pack of the seven food items.
He disclosed that the exercise is an on-going process and in phases, and therefore enjoined those who have not received to be patient as the items would get to them in due course.
He warned that the food items are not meant for any street, group, or Community Development Association to unbundle and start sharing the items in bits and pieces, as this will defeat the purpose of the palliative.
However, Governor Abiodun confirmed two new positive cases of coronavirus in Ogun State, thus, bringing the total to 6 from the index case identified late February.
He disclosed that one of the two new cases is from Mowe in Obafemi-Owode Local Government in Ogun Central, while the other is from Yewa South in Ogun West, confirming that each of the three senatorial districts in the state has one case at least.
The governor therefore advised residents to protect themselves and their community from this invisible but dangerous virus by observing all the guidelines, and shed off any carefree attitude that some may have been adopting toward the virus. “COVID-19 is real. It is here also in Ogun State”, he said.
Other measures to be taken by the government in the fight against coronavirus include: Identification and enrolment of specific private hospitals in the state as incident centres / first responders, whose staff will be trained in coronavirus case management and provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items.
These private hospitals will complement the over 500 government health facilities, including Primary Healthcare Centres spread across the nooks and crannies of the state.
The governor added that all political office holders at the state level from Senior Special Assistants to Special Advisers and Honourable Commissioners are now part of the State Task Force that can be contacted by the public for information, feedback and complaints.
He said plans are being concluded to take delivery of molecular laboratory, as plans are also underway for a mobile testing laboratory.
In addition, Abiodun said the government is also establishing a drive-through testing facilities, all in effort to test as many as possible so as to truly confirm that numbers of positive cases on hand are a true reflection of the situation in the state.
He stressed that government will continue to review the measures and strengthen its preparedness to combat the corona monster on an on-going basis.
The governor thanked all those who have donated to the course of fighting the coronavirus pandemic in cash and in kind, some of whom are: Winners Chapel, Indomie, Honeywell, Kessington Adebutu, Dangote, Archbishop Fape /Anglican Communion, Leadway, FCMB, Tony Elumelu, Baptist Convention, Fidson Pharmaceuticals, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Tolu Odebiyi and all those who have sent cash donations using the USSD, from the N950 to the N2,000 which all added up.
