Anambra State Commissioners for Health and that of Information and Public Enlightenment appeared before the members of Anambra state house of Assembly.
Recall In a motion under urgent public importance moved by Hon. Dr. G. Nnamdi Okafor, Majority Leader and Member Representing Awka South 1 Constituency, on Tuesday 3rd, March 2020.
The motion seeking for appearance of the Honourable Commissioners for Health and Information respectively in the hallowed chambers of the state Assembly to pronounce proactive measures adopted so far towards averting encroachment of the deadly Corona virus (COVID19) and similar diseases in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala in his part stated that sudden outbreak of COVID19 topped the chart making other deadly epidemic like lesser fever less noticed though deadly and still in existence.
He stated that the state swung into what he described as alert mode since January 16, 2020 following the report that some neighborhood states have recorded a case of the lesser fever epidemic.
Read More: Coronavirus: Anambra Lawmakers Summons Health & Information Commissioners
According to Dr. Okpala, The state has two functional public health emergency operation centres, one sited opposite government house, Awka via the aide of Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and one at Onitsha, and are always at alert through their emergency numbers and Twitter handle @NCDC. every community has a five man community surveillance/informants trained to feed the Ministry of Health with vital information on symptoms of the epidemics.
In local government level; Disease surveillance and education officers (DSEO) were specially trained in data collation, and neurologists in the state level.
Dr. Okpala continued, In preventive measures, the state is currently partnering with transportation companies that routes Anambra from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to include in its manuscript description columns where travelers note the countries they have been in the past few months prior to the day of their travel enroute Anambra State.
Dr. Okpala who narrated a story on how people fled at the sight of a Chinese contractor at Nkpor new parts who returned from China and noted that the Chinese contractor was quarantined in Lagos and no symptoms of the COVID19 was discovered before he was allowed to return to the state, He however, debunked fake information being peddled with no trace of verifiable root while enjoining citizenry to indulge in the use of soap, running water and alcohol based sanitizers, and to maintain safe distance of 3 meters during cough and sneeze time for good hygiene to thrive.
Dr. Okpala warned against nonessential travels to China, Japan, Italy, Iran, South Korea and other countries affected by COVID19, he also warned returnees from the affected countries to observe self quarantine of abstinence from the public until 14 days of arrival in order to maintain safety and to contact the Ministry if symptoms of the epidemic springs up.
In his part, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba stated that the Ministry of information has maintained cooperation with the Ministry of Health in the area of public enlightenment in both English and Igbo language through various media outfits including the Radio, Television, Newspapers, Prints and the New Media.
In his part, Dr. Ibezim, Special Adviser on Indigenous medicine and Managing Director of Anambra Oxygen Production Plant, gave an insight on a herbal administer whom he visited earlier in the day following a call on his office that a herbal administer from the state allege to found cure to COVID19, Dr. Ibezim reiterated his commitment towards following the matter up until proved effective or otherwise noting that there is natural possessions in herbs.
The Commissioners also did justice to questions from the Anambra assembly Members.
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