The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, informed residents of the state that his government is already working on palliatives to relief them of the burden following the partial shutdown of activities aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19.
The governor, however, added that to ensure the palliatives get to those who really need them and not to be cornered by middlemen, the state need to work on accurate data and design.
Governor Makinde disclosed this during a phone-in interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh 105.9 FM and a one-hour Tweetchat via his Twitter handle on Saturday, as indicated by a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa.
The statement noted that the government had stepped up enlightenment campaigns on COVID-19, enforcing measures on the Lockdown of activities in the state and in collaboration with the University College Hospital, Ibadan, has set up diagnostic centres to handle testing of samples awaiting NCDC endorsement. He therefore, believes that once the centres are certified, it would be easier to test more people.
Makinde added that apart from the preventive measures, the state has set up isolation centres which will be ready on Thursday, with four-bed isolation unit in Ogbomoso, 10-bed at Jericho,four-bed at UCH and 100-bed capacity at Olodo, Ibadan noting that the ICU beds in the state currently have ventilators.
Speaking further, He said the state has Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all 33 local government areas and 35 local council development areas adding that the council caretaker chairpersons were already involved in enlightenment campaigns and implementation of directives, complementing the state’s efforts in curtailing the spread of the disease.
The Governor maintained that the state has ensured that health workers have the required equipment and personal gears and would immediately plug any identified gaps. He then urged residents to stay safe by following the proper hygienic practices of washing hands regularly or using an alcohol-based hand sanitisers and practicing social distancing.
