Delta govt takes measures against resurgence of COVID-19

The Delta State Government has revealed that it is taking stringent measures to contain the possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the state.

This followed recent confirmed cases of the pandemic a few weeks ago in Cross River State.

According to the state epidemiologist, Dr Mildred Okowa-Igumbor, aside from regular medical surveillance, the state government is also strengthening its campaign on uncompromised adherence to regular hygiene, particularly hand-washing hygiene among residents in the state.

She was speaking in Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state, during the 2026 commemoration of World Hand Hygiene Day held at the Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and Advanced Diagnostic Centre.

Dr Okowa-Igumbor, who was represented at the event by the assistant state epidemiologist and state focal person for infection, prevention and control (IPC), Dr Enyi Idotenyin, described hand hygiene as the fulcrum in the prevention and control of infection globally.

The state epidemiologist said strict adherence to hand hygiene is capable of reducing human infections such as cholera, diarrhoea and scabies, as well as Covid, by over 70 per cent, adding that non-adherence could result in cases of antimicrobial resistance.

She said, “The importance of hand hygiene cannot be overemphasized. It is simple as it is one of the surest ways in the prevention and control of infection.

“It is proven that once you adhere strictly to hand hygiene, you can prevent over 70 per cent of infection.

“So, we are here to stress that important fact that hand hygiene remains the corner of infection protection and control. It is cheaper to clean your hands regularly than to spend so much in treating one infection or the other.

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“This is why we are here and we are spreading this message across the various communities, schools, churches, mosques, markets, among others,” Okowa-Igumbor said.

At the event, the state government presented hand-washing equipment and facilities to the management of the hospital.

Receiving the equipment, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Martins Egbase, while underscoring the importance of hand hygiene in human health and existence, thanked the state government for the kits, assuring that the hospital would put them to proper use.