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Covid-19: NCDC boss visits Delta, commends efforts at curbing spread

The Delta state government has been commended for its efforts so far at containing the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the director general, Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) gave the commendation on Sunday in Asaba during his working visit to the state.

Ihekweazu, who was accompanied by Dr. Fiona Fiona, officer in-charge, World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria country office, said that the ability of the state to record such few cases was due to its deliberate, but concerted efforts and urged the state to keep it up.

He said they were in the state to get firsthand information on the activities and challenges of the Delta state emergency operation committee with a view to giving technical support to help address them.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, in his address, welcomed the director general and his entourage and appreciated NCDC and WHO for their technical and other assistance to the state so far.

After a closed door meeting, the team embarked on a field visit to the COVID- 19 holding and treatment centers at the Federal Medical Center, Asaba and the Specialist Hospital, Asaba.

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Speaking with members of the press after the facility-tour, Dr. Ihekweazu stressed that the role of NCDC was to encourage and support states on their preparedness to curb the spread of the virus.

He stated that the role of NCDC is to serve the whole country, help prepare for the worst and at the same time hope for the best.

On the case of every state being potentially affected, the NCDC boss said “borders are drawn for political reasons in order to provide governance for people and bacteria and viruses don’t recognise such.”

On her part, Dr. Braka, officer in-fharge, WHO, country office, Nigeria, appealed to Deltans to remain vigilant, saying the risks were still very high.

She said: “We are here to ensure that what is recommended globally, we contextualise it to the country level looking at capacities and risks and scale up this process in a manner that the capacity in country can manage.

“Working with NCDC to see how we can ramp up this process, certainly Delta will be among those states that will be critically looked up for testing capacity.”

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Ihesiulo Grace

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