COVID-19: Makinde inspects State Infectious Disease Centre

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has inspected the State Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, Ibadan, to assess the level of work done in his absence while he was observing the 14-day isolation period as required.

Governor Makinde who inspected the facility on Monday, declared that the State was now ready to fight the Coronavirus pandemic  and also assured the people of the State that God indeed answered all the prayers offered on his behalf while he was combating the virus.

The facility which will also serve as an isolation and treatment centre for all infectious diseases is a 100-bed space and is said to be ready to receive patients as soon as the need arises.

The Governor, who was received at the Centre by the Acting Chairman of the State COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. Temitope Alonge, was also accompanied by members of the Task Force; Commissioner for health, Dr Bashir Bello; a representative of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, among others.

He described as ‘jobless’ those who condemned his choice of Prof. Alonge as Head of the Task Force Team in his absence, saying the experience and expertise of the former Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is a big boost to the work of the Task Force in sustaining the fight against the virus in the State.

Makinde said, “I want to specially thank Prof. Temitope Alonge. I can see a lot of improvement here and I can also see that we are ready to fight Covid-19.”

While appealing to the people of the State to give more support to his government and the Task Force, especially by observing the rules of hygiene and others as stipulated by the Task Force, the Governor gave the assurance that the Task force would give a daily briefing on how the fight against the pandemic is being fought, as a way of reassuring the people of government’s effort.

He stated, “So, let us all keep observing our social distancing, hygienic conditions and wash our hands with soap and water. It’s a situation that is fluid as things will keep evolving. If you have ideas, please, call us we will listen to you. We acknowledge the fact that we don’t know it all and we are not all-wise but God is with us in Oyo State.”

“The Covid-19, like the experts have been telling me, we are all in an uncharted territory, so we may not be a hundred percent perfect, but I want you to continue to give us your support, because we are here to work for you and we are here to ensure that no life is lost to this pandemic,” Makinde noted.

The Governor further prayed that all those still battling the Coronavirus would overcome it just the way he did, adding that Oyo state too would overcome the virus.

While shedding light on his isolation period, the Governor said that apart from using the period to fight the health challenge occasioned by his testing positive for Coronavirus, he also reflected on his plans and programmes for the people of the State.

He said, “It has also been a period to reflect, look at the programmes, the policies and the things which we want to do for the people of Oyo State and also reflect on how COVID-19 is going to affect us socially and economically.”