CORONA VIRUS IN OGOJA, HON ISHABOR MEETS WITH GENERAL HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

With the one confirm case of Corona Virus in Ogoja Local Government Area, the Local Government Chairman Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor met with the hospital management and the Cross State COVID-19 team to get a first hand information on the state of things and to know the level of preparedness on the part of the team in other to curb further occurances.

According to the leader of the medical team of the hospital Dr. Ochang who noted that work has begun to prevent community transmission.
We are working closely with the Primary Health Care to redouble our efforts so that all nooks and crannies of the Local Government is covered in awareness and other preventive measures.

Dr. Ochang said that, so far only one case has been recorded,explaining that he is certain that the spread of the Virus can be contained if the people of Ogoja can reduce their inter state movement.

Dr. Ochang further explained that with the support from Primary Health Care in the areas of man power, coordination and synergy the team can ensure that community transmission of the Virus will be controlled by first deepening and strengthing of risk communication and social mobilisation, which involves giving out the correct information and dispelling rumours about the Virus.

"In rural areas people keep thinking it is a disease of the rich, but with the Local Government involvement for social mobilization and health information sharing we will be able to keep the people informed of what to do in other not to contract the Virus, and we intend to intensify it as much as possible" he said.

The Hospital Team Leader further explained that the team has began spreading its staff,with necessary tools to help them screen people.

He maintained that the Virus is not treated at Primary Health Care level, adding that the isolation center in General Hospital Ogoja, which is one of the best, is working closely with the State COVID-19 Team to enhance contact tracing and survelliance in conjuction with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

On the part of the Ogoja Local Government Council, the Executive Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor said, as a Council we are seizing the urgency of the moment to ignite strict restriction to minimize the spread of the disease by enforcing the compulsory use of face masks without which no movement, cumpulsory hand washing buckets and alcoholic base sanitizers in public places in Ogoja Local Government Area. A task force for this purpose will soon begin to enforce the order Hon. Ishabor assured.

Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor working in collaboration with the State COVID-19 Team has begun deconterminating and fumigating of the areas where the incident occured and the compulsory isolation of all persons involved.

Conversely , the Chairman of Council Hon. Ishabor calls for calm, cooperation and adherance to the NCDC safety protocols towards containing the spread of the Virus.

Justin Ilefa 
Office of the Executive Chairman 
Ogoja Local Government Council 
25th July, 2020.