By Akeem Abas
Ibadan – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State council, has called on the state government to provide standard equipment and facilities at the centres created to cater for Coronavirus victims.
The union, in a statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by its Secretary, Sola Oladapo, said the call had become imperative as confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country surged to 35, with one death.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council had, on Sunday, inaugurated an 11-man ad hoc committee to ensure accurate reportage of government’s preparedness for the Coronavirus pandemic and draw the attention of the taskforce to areas inadvertently neglected.
NAN reports that the statement was sequel to the interim report submitted to the state council by the committee.
The union tasked the state government to enforce full implementation of stay-at-home order in schools, as students were still seen going to school on Monday.
It called on Gov. Seyi Makinde to ensure that public motor parks were quarantined and that park managers administered sanitisers to passengers boarding vehicles.
While acknowledging the activation of COVID-19 centres in the state, an on-the-spot visitation by some members of the team showed unpleasant state of preparedness.
It quoted the journalists, who visited the government-designated centre for infectious disease control, which would double as the emergency operation centre in Olodo area of Ibadan, as reporting no sign of preparedness on the part of government.
“The team, which visited the Olodo centre, was disturbed that the place was still a ghost land, with bushes and access blocked.
“We learnt that a team, led by Dr Bashir Bello, the state Commissioner for Health, visited the facility but didn’t have access as they had no keys.
“Another member of our team contacted the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and found that they had yet to get any funding assistance from the state government for this pandemic.
“All they have on ground now at UCH is a four-bedded isolation centre, with an empty chlorine tank, non-functional monitoring device and no water.
“The governor had said he has directed funds to be made available but evidences on ground suggests otherwise,” the union said, adding that he (governor) should be on top of the situation, as people had been living in perpetual fear, especially having known that everyone was susceptible.
According to NUJ, another isolation centre, the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Odogbo in Ibadan, has no test kit except those brought from Lagos, while medical consumables and staff strength were grossly inadequate.
The union said that government should rise to the task of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, going by its slow response, poor sensitisation of the public and enforcement of its order.
“Oyo is one of the biggest states in the country, with many porous entries and exits. At this time of COVID-19 global pandemic, are we really monitoring these entries?
“Have we extended some of these facilities and designated centres to the various zones of the state to facilitate immediate response to suspected cases?
“The Oluyole woman, whom the governor spoke about three days ago as a suspected case, has not been visited by any government official up till now.
“The woman herself had risen to the occasion and driven herself to a private hospital in Ibadan,” it said.
The union observed that students of some private schools still attended school, in defiance to government’s order, saying that government needed to be firm in enforcing its order.
“We also feel for the safety of all. Oyo State should declare a two- week break for workers to stay at home. This is not the time to be complacent.
“States in Western Nigeria are doing this and the pacesetter cannot afford to lag behind in protecting the over six million people in the state. Government should also come out about worship in religious centers and enforce compliance.
The union also said that health personnel should be adequately protected and insured to be able to give in their best.
“We need to walk the talk. A stitch in time saves nine,” NUJ said. (NAN)
