Governor Dapo Abiodun Shows His Readiness To Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19 In Ogun State.

By- Femi Akinlawon

On the 30th of March 2020, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, Governor of Ogun State addressed the good people of the state on the measures taking by his administration to Prevent the wide spread of Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) across the state.

The Governor mentioned some of the steps taken and he emphasized that his administration won't relax until everyone is free and safe from this Coronavirus in Ogun state.

Below are some of the steps taken by His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR to Ensure Ogun state is Free from COVID-19:

a. All contacts of the index case, forty in all, were identified, located, listed and quarantined

b. The state’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) was activated immediately to coordinate a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral response through seven key pillars – (1) Coordination (2) Surveillance and Epidemiology (3) Risk Communication and Social Mobilization (4) Case Management (5) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) (6) Logistic and (7) Laboratory.
We have been holding daily meetings together with all relevant partners to review developments, take decisions and deploy resources appropriately.

c. The capacity of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Team at both State and LGA levels has been strengthened.
Twenty (20) Medical Officers of Health, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) and their assistants, Health Educators, and Environmental Health Officers were trained from each of the 20 LGAs.
d. We have trained four hundred and twenty-six (426) health personnel in public, private and paramilitary health facilities (doctors, nurses, laboratorians, environmental health officers etc.) on COVID-19 Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC)
e. Eleven (11) Medical Laboratory Scientists have been trained on COVID-19 sample collection

f. We have focused on ensuring transparent communication with the public and have been running campaigns on print and social media to promote the prevention and early detection of COVID-19 infection.

g. We have established multiple means by which the public can contact the Ogun State Ministry of Health. These include a facebook account and twitter handle @OGCovid19Update. We also initiated Public health hotlines, operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached on the following toll free number 0800 123 5678.

h. Over a hundred thousand (100,000) Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials were produced and distributed to health facilities, schools, churches, mosques, workplaces and general community. Poster support was also received from partners such as WHO and the Nigeria Medical Association

i. Reinforcement of our borders to eliminate all possible threats through our surveillance network together with Port Health Services staff at the land borders. Just last week, we facilitated the movement from the Idiroko border of stranded indigenes of other states to their respective states of origin with security escorts.

j. Information exchange on Persons of Interest (POI) (travelers from other countries whose destination is Ogun state). A total of 1,002 persons were screened in the last one week including passengers and persons crossing the borders on foot.

k. Procurement and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers and Isolation facilities.

l. In order to tackle the challenge of short supply of hand sanitizers, we engaged the Pharmacy Department in Ogun State Hospitals Management Board to produce hand sanitizers for distribution to our hospitals for use by frontline health workers. Over 100,000 bottles of sanitizer are being produced for distribution to the 20 LGAs.

m. Through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, we have mapped our industries with expatriates and has commenced sensitization of their medical and general staff on COVID-19 infection, detection, prevention and control measures.

n. In our search for suitable facilities that we can quickly deploy as COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centers, we assessed and evaluated several options across the state, including the intended 250-bed hospital under construction in Abeokuta that only has 40 beds delivered; existing hospitals and other public buildings. The Assessment Team concluded that the following facilities could be immediately deployed in the short term.
These are the purpose-built 21 bed isolation and treatment centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu; 100 bed capacity General Hospital Iberekodo, Abeokuta, and this Isolation and Treatment Centre in Ikenne with 128 bed capacity. The Ikenne facility though not within a hospital will benefit from the technical, logistics and manpower support from two tertiary health facilities – Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu and Babcock University Teaching University, Ilisan which are both are less than 10-minutes drive away. In the medium to long term plan of the state, we are in discussions with the contractor of the 250-bed hospital, to determine the possibility of the facility becoming available in the shortest possible time. Also available to us are a 30-bed facility donated by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and a 40 bed facility donated by Mr. Fola Adeola for isolation of suspected cases till they are confirmed. In total, we have a over 300 beds for isolation and treatment. It should be noted that whilst there are a few suspected cases being tested, there is only one active case of the infection in our state as I speak.

o. In addition, the state has also mapped the following health facilities that could be easily prepared and deployed in an unlikely event of the existing 300 bed spaces being exhausted. These include 523 Primary Health Care facilities, 42 secondary facilities, 3 tertiary facilities and 690 private health facilities with 7,082 health care workers (including 531 doctors and 2,206 nurses) across the 20 LGAs in the State.

p. Furthermore, all the Local Government Chairmen have been directed to identify suitable facilities such as event/social centres, school halls, community halls, in their respective areas that could be easily prepared and deployed as COVID-19 treatment facilities in the event of a surge in the corona virus cases in the State.

q. These facilities that we emplacing are not just to cope with any surge (we pray not) in our state but the likely overflow from our next door neighbours – Lagos. This is a collective fight and this is time to support each other and work as part of a national effort to confront a common adversary.

r. The State has procured additional vehicles for intensified COVID-19 surveillance.

s. In light the attendant risk of community transmission and to enforce social distancing, on the 18th of March, 2020, the Government found it expedient to ban all high-density gatherings that would bring together 50 or more people. This has since been lowered to 20 - persons in the same place, such as social clubs, halls, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes, and sport arenas. This measure will be in effect till 18 April in the first instance.

....On behalf of all the citizens of our dear gateway state, we appreciate the restlessness efforts of His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR.

Thank You.

Compiler:
Femi Akinlawon