By Austin Ajayi, Yola
As part of the efforts to control, prevent, and contain the spread, Coronavrious, the Adamawa state government has set up an Isolation Ward, equipped with monitors has already been prepared at the Yola Specialist Hospital.
Governor Umaru Finitri disclosed this today in a state wide broadcast according to him , “i am delighted to note that this is the first of its kind in the entire Northern Region, since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out”.
Noting that ” Adamawa State does not have a single confirmed case, but the preparation of the Isolation Centre, rigorous screening at the Airports, Parks, other entry points and a fast track connection with the National Centre for Disease Control whenever a case is detected”.
Stressing the Government’s readiness to tackle this challenge headlong.
Adding that “contact is being maintained with the Personnel of Primary Health Care Development Agencies while Local Government Headquarters are the focal points of transportation of suspected cases, throughout the State”
“In furtherance of the overall objective of preventing the spread, the Adamawa State COVID-19 Containment Committee is hereby constituted with the Secretary to the State Government, Mallam Bashiru Ahmad as Chairman and the following as members:
Hon. Commissioner Health Professor Abdullahi Isa
Medical Director, Yola Specialist Hospital
Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre Yola,
Commissioner for Local Government, Environment, Information and strategy, Livestock and Aquaculture Development while the Director Public Health, Ministry of Health will serve as the Secretary.
Its terms of reference include but not limited to coordinating the overall Medico-social response to COVID-19 pandemic paying attention to public sensitization and implementation of containment measures.
” In view of this, Government may eventually consider a work holiday for all categories of staff except those on essential services, such as, cleaners, technical staff in Water Board, Fire Service, Hospitals, Health and Media Personnel”
The . Government has since directed that all Public/Private, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions should close on or before Friday 27th March, 2020, and proceed on a one month recess, subject to review.
The governor caution that COVID-19 has nothing to do with Politics, Religion, Belief, Culture, Creed or social bounds. Therefore.
” Government will not shy away from taking every measure that is in the interest of helping the State progress and save lives”.
” Government therefore appeals to religious Leaders to pray for an end to the pandemic and also help in moderating their congregation to a maximum of fifty people, until further notice.”
“All conventions, Congresses, Seminars and Workshops that will warrant a gathering of more than fifty (50) people at a time, are hereby banned till further notice.
For the avoidance of doubt, all forms of social, religious, and cultural gatherings, that will attract more than fifty (50) people, are also hereby banned”.
The governor added that government requires the cooperation of religious and Traditional Leaders, towards enlightening the people on the necessity of this measure to securing and protecting the lives of our citizens.
The global pandemic has seen to the lockdown of many countries across the World.
Following the unprecedented economic meltdown that has affected livelihoods and Public safety, the state government has therefore agreed on measures to address the prevailing challenges that will affect the discharge of its services, as result, all Trainings, Workshops, Seminars and Official Trips outside the State, are hereby suspended for the period of three (3) months, subject to review as the situation warrants.
Government also resolved to implement cost saving measures such as a review of the current budget by Twenty percent, coupled with a reduction in Overhead Cost also by fifty percent across board.
To cushion the effect of the alarming economic challenge of COVID-19, Government has agreed on a fifty percent reduction in the cost of House rent, Commercial shops and business premises.
Government is aware of the impact of the economic implication of the current meltdown on informal businesses where majority of citizens are involved and has graciously approved another fifty percent reduction in the taxes affecting this category.
However, Government is mindful of the need to shore-up its earnings and will therefore, intensify effort on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in areas where there will be minimal effect on the public wellbeing.
The governor said government activities has been affected, but while adjusting to the prevailing reality, government will do its best to implement the agenda it has set out to achieve, stressing that this can only be done with the collective support of each and every citizen.
“We must all have the courage and resilience and sacrifice to go through the storm that is gathering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”.
Noting that countries of the World that have overcome the pandemic have not made more sacrifices than we are.
” Many citizens who have travelled abroad and returned to the Country in the past few days, have made exemplary sacrifices by voluntarily isolating themselves for the mandatory period of Fourteen (14) days.
This is the nature of sacrifice that is required, if we are to collectively overcome this phenomenon”.
