Exactly one year after the first cases of Covid19 were confirmed in Gombe State, the government has taken stock of achievements describing the battle against the dreaded disease as successful.
The State Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau who is also the Chairman, Gombe State Government, Coordinating Committee on Covid19 Response, explained that the first confirmed cases of the virus and other activities embarked upon were made possible by the State Task Force on Covid19 inaugurated by the Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Briefing newsmen in his office, the Deputy Governor said, since the detection of the first cases the Task Force has been coordinating response activities then on Active Case Search among returnees from high risk states, adding that efforts to strengthen the surveillance system and response activities in the state are clear testimony of the Governor’s commitment towards safeguarding the health of the people, which has been the best goal after security.
The Deputy Governor listed the achievements of the government in the battle against Covid19 to include, establishment and equipping of 5 isolation centres spread across the three senatorial zones of the state, establishment of fully equipped 12 bed Intensive Care Unit at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe, and establishment of a state-of-the-art Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory Complex at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe which also serves Adamawa and Yobe states as well as being targeted for testing of Lassa Fever, Ebola and other related diseases, among many other steps taken to mitigate effect and spread of covid19 virus.
Mr. Jatau said apart from distribution of palliatives to indigenes across 114 wards, the government has established 18 school safe isolation spaces in boarding schools where 112 cases were successfully managed and discharged.
He said, as at yesterday 20th April, 2021, a total number of 34,472 people were tested out of which 2,034 were positive, 1,990 successful managed and discharged, with 44 deaths representing 2.1% as against other climes with 7% or more deaths.
Another area of success according to the Deputy Governor was that of vaccination campaign where 32,956 people have received the first dose of Covid19 vaccine, while the second dose is available for administration after 8-12 Weeks of the first dose, adding that it is now possible for an individual to receive the second dose of Astrazeneca in any part of the country.
Speaking on the current status, Mr. Jatau said” the response to covid19 in the state is being coordinated by His Excellency, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Ph.D, the Deputy Governor as Chairman of the State Coordinating Committee ,while the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru is the Incident Manager”.
The Deputy Governor stressed that, the pandemic is ongoing with some parts of the world experiencing a third wave and the emergence of new strains, pointing out that Gombe State and Nigeria shall continue to sustain their testing drive and all other response activities in keeping with national guidelines and global best practices until herd immunity with the vaccination campaign is attained.
He emphasized that the government of Gombe state shall sustain its infection prevention control measures like the proper use of face marks, frequent hand washing with soap and water, cough etiquette and physical distancing, advising people with symptoms of respiratory tract infection like fever, cough, and catarrh should visit the nearest health facility.
He appreciated the World Organization and other international donor organizations, the Federal Government, NCDC and Presidential Task Force on Covid19, the Governor of Gombe State and the Pioneer Chairman, Task Force on Corona Virus, Gombe State, Security Agencies, Traditional, Religious and Community Leaders for their role in implementing, and compliance to the recommendations of Civid19.
He appealed to the press not to relax but intensify efforts towards the enlightenment campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic in Gombe State and the country at large.
