Osun Govt, A Dogged fighter Against COVID-19 - Olamiju, S.A. Public Health

 

...charged citizens on adherence to precautionary measures

As the fight against the deadly COVID-19 continues, the State of Osun has been described as a dogged fighter in the war against the pandemic.

The Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Public Health, Dr Olasiji Olamiju, made this known on Thursday while featuring on a programme organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) OSBC Chapel, tagged: "Candid Platform".

Olamiju said the fight against the pandemic started in Osun even before the State recorded its first case, which shows proactiveness on the part of the State government.

Olamiju who explained that the state is spending huge amount of money managing the pandemic from testing to purchase of drugs, feeding of patients and maintenance of the isolation centers, said the non-adherence to safety protocols by the people is hindering the success that would have been recorded in the fight against the virus.

"The State of Osun started the campaign against this pandemic in February even before we recorded the first case on 25th of March, 2020. That is to show proactiveness on the part of the State Government under the leadership of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola."

"Every necessary measure to mitigate the effects of the pandemic has been put in place by the government; in terms of awareness, the over 350 bed isolation centres situated in the three Senatorial zones, ventilators, provision of drugs, medical consumables and allowances for the frontliners."

"All together in Osun, we have 584 cases as of today, 300 patients (51%) have been successfully treated in our isolation centres and discharged. 271 active cases (47%) are still under treatment while we have recorded 13 deaths which is just 2% of all the cases. This shows that the survival rate is higher than the fatality rate."

"If our people continue to disobey the precautionary measures, they're not doing the economy any good because the cost of managing the cases and logistics of maintaining the Isolation centres are all on the cost of the state which we all belong to. So, the lesser cases we have to treat, the better for our collective economy."

"Anyone not complying with the guidelines/protocols is not only an enemy of him/herself but the enemy of our collective responsibility, development and growth because it has become a draining pipe and  Governor Oyetola is passionately interested in the good health of the citizenry,  the welfare of workforce as well as general growth and all round development of the state. We're not doing our economy any good by not complying to the regulations."

The Public Health expert charged everyone who still believes COVID-19 is a child's play to have a rethink, saying "COVID-19 has come to stay, we can't run away from it any longer. We have to device ways, adaptive mechanisms to live with it and to stay safe, that is why we are advising our people to please abide by the rules of the game in their interest and the State at large."

He however called on the Federal Government to remember Osun as they had done for other states especially Lagos, Ogun and Kano, considering Osun's level of preparedness and proactiveness to combating the virus.

"If Osun had been lackadaisical like some other states, only God knows how many deaths we would have recorded but we thank God for our visionary, proactive and passionate Governor, Mr Oyetola, who takes the health of the people as priority and poised to making sure that we all live healthy in this State."

Earlier in his welcome address, the NUJ Chairman, OSBC Chapel, Mr Tunde Adeyemo admonished his members to always stand with the truth that the profession is known for.

The programme which was moderated by the Director of News and Current Affairs OSBC TV, Prince Akinola Owolabi also had Moshood Suleiman and Olusayo Babatunde on set.

Others who graced the programme are, the Director-General of OSBC, Mrs. Adejumoke Akinjiola, the state secretary of NUJ, Bukola Elufadejin, Director of News and Current Affairs OSBC Radio, Barrister Abimbola Babatunde, Director of Sports OSBC, Alhaji Muyideen Adeleke and others.