From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Kano state Taskforce on COVID-19 has taken its sensitizatiion campaign against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic into the hinterlands with coordinated partnership with traditional rulers.
The chairman of the Taskforce, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who is also the state Deputy Governor, while meeting with traditional rulers across the 44 Local Government Areas at Africa House, Government House, told the Royal fathers that the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the state is everybody’s project which must be taken very seriuosly.
He said the Taskforce has put all machinaries in motion to launch aggressive campaign and reinforce sensitization programmes targeted at the rural areas.
The AUTHORITY reports that Kano remains free of COVID-19 case as at the time of filling this report.
Gawuna who met with 44 District Heads in a bid to extend massive sensitization campaign on the effects of Coronavirus to remote areas, urged them to speak to the people, with the language they can understand, on the need to observe all preventive measures against COVID-19 as laid down by the Federal and state Ministries of Health.
He also intimidated the District Heads on critical measures that need to be adopted to curtail the spread of the pandemic into and across the State.
Speaking on the progress so far made by the Taskforce Committee, Gawuna said presently, the state has succceeded in taking three measures that are yielding positive response in preventing the spread of the disease..
According to him, “the progress so far has been made very clear by His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the three measures taken by the State in the aspects of preventive, curative and palliative measures.
“On the preventive side, the State Government has done all what is supposed to do in terms of sensitization and provision of medical supply on this pandemic and Taskforce committee has been set up to handle the issue.”
According to him, some of the curative measures taken by the State have to do with provision of isolation centres where patients would be taken to, citing Kwanar Dawaki and Sani Abacha Stadium as some of the centres well equiped for this purpose.
“The Sani Abacha Stadium is one of the isolation centre set aside in conjunction with Dangote Foundation where 500 beds with facilities are been provided at the morement. Apart from that, the State had set up fund raising committee which has so far raised funds, food items and medical equipment,” he added.
He maintained that the Committee decided to meet with traditional rulers being one of the critical stakeholders, to educate them on the measures taken by the State to fight against Coronavirus for onward sensitization of people at the grassroots.
“Traditional rulers have a structure raised from the Kano Emirate Council ranging from the five Emirs, the 44 District Heads, 1005 Village Heads and 7665 Ward Heads under which we also have various leaders on different aspects of life, like Sarkin Aska, Sarkin Noma, Sarkin Makera and Sarkin Fawa among others.
” We sensitize them and they are working hand in hand with Government to see that people are being educated and adequately informed on the situation so that we can try as much as possible to prevent the occurance of COVID-19,” Gawuna stated.
Gawuna declared that to this end, Kano State Government has done a lot of public enlightenment campaigns on COVID -19 pandemic such as closing of schools and closing of Government offices, adding that just last Monday Government extended another two weeks for workers to stay at home.
On the closure of State Boundaries, Gawuna stated that the policy is in effect and all the security operatives, including the Health Personnel assigned at the Boarders are working day and night to ensure total compliance of the said directives.
In his speech, the District Head of Ajingi, Sarkin Yakin Gaya, Alhaji Wada Aliyu said traditional rulers have a vital role to play in addressing the issue of Coronavirus just as the institution contributed immensely on the fight against polio through people sensitization campaign.
“We are fully aware of the giant steps taken by the Kano State Government to prevent its people from the deadly disease. There is therefore an urgent need for traditional rulers to complement Government effort through sensitization of our subjects to join the crusade, ” he noted.
Earlier, the Co-Chairman of Kano State Taskforce Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Abdulrazak Garba Habib stated that the meeting was intended to intimate traditional institution on the dangerous impacts of COVID-19 and the roles expected from them to prevent its spread in the state.
