From Steve Oko, Umuahia
The Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Professor Greg Ibe, has announced what he called ” a comprehensive intervention package” to assuage the current and anticipated harmful social, medical and financial effects of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in Abia State.
He announced the donation of some medical equipment and facilities to Abia State Government to complement government’s efforts in stemming the spread of the deadly pandemic.
Ibe also announced the donation of 850 bags of rice for distribution to Abians at the ratio of 50 bags for each of the 17 local government areas as palliative for a possible knockdown of the state.
The philanthropist also donated all medical facilities in his university’s Teaching hospital at Amachara Specialist Hospital and the main campus at Uturu for use in the treatment of covid -19 patients in the eventuality of the outbreak of the pandemic in the state.
Recall that Abia has not yet recorded any case of the dreaded pandemic so far.
He asked the state’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus to identify a location in Abia North which will serve as an additional isolation centre for the containment of the disease, and promised to equip it.
Professor Ibe in a press statement he personally signed expressed concern over the seriousness of the pandemic and said he was ready to make any sacrifice to stop it from spreading to Abia as well as provide succor to Abians in the eventuality of any outbreak in the state.
The statement read in part : “It is therefore in the spirit of complementing the strategies currently being pursued by our state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to mitigate the possible outbreak of COVID-19 in Abia, that I have directed my office the immediate implementation of the following measures:
“Donation of equipment and facilities for establishment of a functional COVID-19 Isolation Centre within Abia North as a way of complementing the other centres already earmarked by government.
“The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus is thereby invited to provide a suitable facility for equipping with available medical facilities.
“The immediate supply of COVID-19 testing kits and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), for subsequent distribution to tertiary health institutions within the state.
“The supply of 850 bags of rice for distribution to Abians through the Local Government Councils, at the ratio of 50 bags per LGA, as a way of mitigating the harsh realities of possible lockdown.”
Professor Ibe also announced “the release and deployment of three Gregory University Uturu Specialist Hospital medical ambulances to the state Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus to assist in shuttling suspected cases to designated places for medical attention.”
He also announced constant fumigation of public places in selected parts of the state by the works department of Gregory University Uturu.
The statement further read :”All Gregory University Uturu medical facilities, both at Uturu and Amachara, are hereby placed at the disposal of the state Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus, as all medical personnel working in these places have been directed to be at stand-by in their duty posts throughout the duration of the war against COVID-19.”
Professor Ibe who had recently offered N350 million worth of scholarship to 90 Abians from all 17 LGAs in the state, also announced mass production of potent hand sanitizers by the Entrepreneurship Department of his university “for subsequent distribution to Abians, especially those involved in the execution of essential services, including Health Workers, Security Personnel, National Union of Road Transport Workers, etc.”
He, however, appealed to Abians and residents of the state to endeavour to observe the necessary protocols and personal hygienes including social distancing to stay away from the pandemic.
