From Ali Galadima, Bauchi
Worried by the current situation of coronavirus in the country, the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPCDA) has began screening of passengers who arrived the state through airports, motor parks and and Yankari Games Reserved to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
“We want to strengthen our activities in the state and this is one of the activity we have started to measure that we screen all the incoming passengers in times of their history, travelled history as well as their tempreture to measure we prevent all the diseases from entering the state especially coronavirus”.
Addressing Journalists at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport Bauchi immediately after screening passengers who boarded Max Air line, Commissioner Ministry of Health Dr.Aliyu Mohammed Maigoro said “as for now, 3rd March we don’t have any suspected case in Bauchi, probably or unconfirm case of coronavirus”.
“We are strengthen our surveilence and preventive measures at airport, motor parks, Yankari Game Reserves and mining areas. We want to ensure the good people of Bauchi state that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is supporting this activity and we are enlightening the communities on personal hygiene so that we can curtail the spread of the virus”
He said, regular hand washing as we well as sneezing on handkachief, tissue papers or any material rather than spreading it in public would help in the reduction of diseases.
Dr. Maigoro advise that when people are sick they should go to the nearest health facilities and obtain services by the services providers rather than relying on medicine vendor who have no knowledge of any disease.
He stated that the state Government has immediately swung into action following the outbreak of the COVID-19 on 27th of last month in Nigeria by Italian citizen, who works in Nigeria and returns from Malin, Italy to Lagos on February 25, 2020.
He explained that, “Government took some measures including “strengthening and expanding the current Lassa Emergency Preparedness Response Team(EPR) at the Emergency Operation centre to include COVID-19; improving the standard of the state Isolation Centers at ATBUTH, IDHE and creating additional hold rooms at the Specialist Hospital Bauchi in case of any eventuality”.
“The Conduct of state Emergency Preparedness and Response , prepositioning of drugs and other consumables, daily coordination meeting at the State’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and an ongoing plan for intensify awarness creation in the state, are part of the measures”, he said.
Maigoro also assured that the state government was always ready to partner with all persons, groups and organisations in its determination towards providing quality health care services in the state.
The Commissioner then appealed to the people in the state not to abuse social media by spreading misinformation about the disease that can cause panic and fear and they should report any suspected case to the nearest health facility in the state or call any of the following hotlines, 08032717887, 08038320977 and 08028618516.
