A medical expert, Dr Paul Okubor, has advised people to adhere strictly to the preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, as the pandemic enters community transmission level.
Mr Okubor, also the Chief Medical Director, Central Hospital, Warri, gave the advice on Tuesday in Warri.
He spoke while receiving the executive members of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, Delta chapter, who were on a fact finding visit to the hospital.
“There is already community transmission of the pandemic, so we need to put in our efforts to overcome it,” Mr Okubor said.
The chief medical director said that Delta Government had done very well in the provision of Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs, as well as training of medical personnel to handle COVID-19 cases in the state.
“We have four active centres where positive cases can be taken to; the Warri Centre was the last to come on stream, and we continue to pray that the centres will not be underutilised.
“Government has trained people across the cadres and a lot of training is still being conducted with the relevant persons, caregivers and hospital workers.
“Besides, government has also provided adequate PPEs for those in the frontline.
“We are hoping that the incident and the prevalence of COVID-19 does not go beyond what we are having now. If it remains at this level in Delta, it will be good.
“The basic minimum we expect from our health workers and patients as part of the measures to prevent the global pandemic, is to wash our hands and maintain social distancing.
“Also, you must wear face mask or cover your face with a handkerchief.
“If you don’t put on face mask, no doctor will attend to you as a patient in our hospital. These are mandatory,” he said.
While advising people to abide by various measures being put in place by the state government, Okubor urged the association to assist government in enlightening the citizens on the pandemic.
Responding, the state Chairman of APBN, Paul Akporowho, commended the chief medical director and the staff of the hospital on the various measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus.
“We came to ascertain what is on ground, how our colleagues are faring and identify the critical gaps in terms of facilities.
“We are happy that the state government has done so much; the rumours that there are no PPEs in the hospital is not true.
“We are concerned about safety of our colleagues. We heard that it has entered community transmission level, that means more PPEs would be required.
“There should also be need for more testing facilities for confirmation of those who are being suspected and those exposed to the virus.
“Also, the turnaround time to get confirmation of test from Irrua in Edo is much, if we can have one in Delta, it will help,” he said.
Mr Akporowho, however, called on corporate organisations to assist the state government in the provision of facilities.
He said that the existing treatment centres might not be sufficient if the virus could spread beyond this limit.
Also, Dr Victor Oreagbu, Head, Technical Team of APBN in Delta, said that the situation might become “endemic” because of the community spread.
Mr Oreagbu said that people were not observing the preventive measures adequately.
“We should try and educate our people that there are certain sacrifices they need to make in this situation.
“The virus has no cure, the only cure at the moment is prevention,” he said.
The association also visited the Ekpan General Hospital in Uvwie Local Government Area to ascertain the level of preparedness, gap in facilities as well as compliance to the measures put in place to contain COVID-19.
NAN
