Coronavirus: Bauchi ready to combat spread

Following the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria and determined to prevent its spread to Bauchi State, the State Government has intensified surveillance activities in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi, all motor parks across the state, Yankari Game Reserves as well as all mining areas.

The disclosure of the measure was announced by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aliyu Mohammed Maigoro on Monday while holding a press conference in his office, saying the state government swung into action following the confirmation of the COVID-19 on the 27th of last month in Nigeria through an Italian citizen, who works in Nigeria and returns from Milan, Italy to Lagos on February 25, 2020.

ALSO READ: Doctors to report cases of child sexual violence to police in Ekiti

According to the Commissioner, the government took some measures including “strengthening and expanding the current Lassa Emergency Preparedness Response Team (EPR) at the Emergency Operation Centre to include COVID-19; improving the standard of the state isolation centres at ATBUTH, IDHE and creating additional hold rooms at the Specialist Hospital Bauchi in case of any eventuality”.

He added that “The conduct of state emergency preparedness and response, prepositioning of drugs and other consumables, daily coordination meeting at the State’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and an ongoing plan for intensifying awareness creation in the state, are part of the measures”.

Mohammed Maigoro also assured that the state government is always ready to partner with all persons, groups and organisations in its determination towards providing quality health care services in the state.

The Commissioner then appealed to the people in the state not to abuse social media by spreading misinformation about the disease that can cause panic and fear and they should report any suspected case to the nearest health facility in the state or call any of the following hotlines, 08032717887, 08038320977 and 08028618516.

In his own contribution, Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (BSPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed advised residents of the state to imbibe the culture of hygiene and hygienic living in order to reduce the risk of getting infected

Rilwanu Mohammed further called on the people to immediately report to the nearest health facility any severe fever, cold and cough as well as other illnesses that are getting out of control stressing that the government is ready for any uneventful situation.