The Osun Government says it has created an infrastructure to respond to the public health threats of COVID-19 and is ready to work with various agencies to fight the evolving public health issue.
Mr Siji Olamiju, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, who said this on Monday, added that the state government had also been screening foreigners in the state for COVID-19.
Olamiju, who was in company with the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, had made this known while appearing before the Osun House of Assembly to give an account of their activities to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
‘`The majority of the foreigners screened were Chinese personnel working at the gold mines at Ife-Ijesa axis of the state and none of them tested positive to the Coronavirus.
“The state health ministry is also collaborating with the NCDC and Lagos State Health Ministry to ensure that the virus does not spread to the state or it is contained when discovered,’’ he said.
The governor’s aide also said the government had set up a committee in response to the coronavirus disease.
He said no case of the virus had been discovered, adding that steps had been taken by the committee in defining the protocol for management of COVID-19 and developing strategy, risk communication and mapping of foreigners.
Isamotu, on his part, urged residents not to panic over the virus, saying that the government was taking proactive measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19.
Isamotu said awareness and sensitization campaigns were also being carried out in religious centres, schools, and markets across the state, adding that designated ambulances were also on ground as well as toll-free numbers to call in suspected cases.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, urged the commissioner and governor’s aide to provide sanitizers and handwashing materials in public schools and the House of Assembly.
Owoeye also advised that more people should be employed to help in creating awareness. (NAN)
