A major supporting group of the Seyi Makinde-led government, Omituntun Initiative in Diaspora (OID), has charged citizens and populace in the state not to express panic over the in pandemic disease, coronavirus, just as it expressed its readiness to complement the effort of state government in tackling as well as putting precaution measures in place through combative medical and public health mechanism.
The Oyo State Coordinator of the group, Dr Aaron Ola Ogundiwin, disclosed this in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Ayotomiwa Adebayo Esq, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, during the launch of an awareness campaign against the spread of the contagious disease, in rural and urban areas of the state, while he also appreciated the measures put in place by the government to fight the continuous spread of the deadly disease.
Ogundiwin reassured that international investors who have expressed their desire and have chosen Oyo State as their investment destination, through the unprecedented investment drive of Governor Makinde, that the state is free of coronavirus.
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He noted that the group was committed to playing an active role in making the state achieve its leadership position among states in Nigeria and will continue the OID Medical Outreach programme initiated to support Governor Makinde’s Medical projects to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.
“Going by the weighty issues associated with coronavirus, it is timely and necessary to launch a campaign of public awareness and encouragement based on available facts at our disposal, that Oyo State is coronavirus free as Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration, has put in place combative medical and public health mechanism that is adequate to make Oyo State unconducive for the virus to thrive. Governor Makinde approved about N54m for a free medical health outreach to cover all the local governments in the State and has earmarked the sum of N1 billion for the upgrade of all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the Oyo State.
“Also, in keeping with the World Health Organisation guidelines, Oyo State government has been thoroughly sensitising the general public on the steps to take should they experience any of the symptoms of the virus such as coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. These steps include first, self-isolation before calling the designated medical helplines for assistance,” he added.
A medical practitioner, Dr Emmanuel Fagbo, also advised the general public to practice proper hygiene and follows the medical guidelines, such as washing hands properly and regularly with water and soap or use hand sanitizers as well, covering nose while sneezing and your mouth when coughing properly, as well as avoid unprotected or close contact with sick people.
Provost, Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Mr Siji Ganiyu, advised the public to avoid panic, just as he emphasised that Oyo State government in collaboration with other health centres had made the following facilities such as Ring-Road State Hospital Ibadan, University College Hospital Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital Ogbomosho, Military Hospital, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan, among others, for functional emergency units.
He also urged medical practitioners and scientists to speed up COVID -19 vaccine research that will fight the deadly disease and reduce its widespread globally.