No confirmed case of coronavirus in A’Ibom- Commissioner

The Akwa Ibom state government has declared as false and misleading, rumours of cases of coronavirus in the state. 

Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Friday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong disclosed that although surveillance, prevention and infection control measures have been instituted in hospitals and other public places in the state, no case has so far been confirmed. 

“I want to assure the public that rumours and false information going around social media about some Chinese and coronavirus in Akwa lbom state is completely false.

“For emphasis, let me state here categorically and unambiguously, that there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in Akwa lbom state as I speak to you,” he said 

The health commissioner said the state government through the ministry of health had before the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria, initiated measures to prevent the outbreak and contain the virus in the event of an outbreak in the state.

He listed some of the preventive actions initiated by the state government to include creating awareness through the media, both print and electronic, jingles to sensitize the residents with relevant information on COVID-19 infection with the awareness campaign being done in English, pidgin, Ibibio, Annang and Oron.

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Ukpong said sensitization and awareness campaigns have been taken to a cross-section of citizens of the state such as local government areas, traditional rulers and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as management of public and private hospitals. 

He noted that other screening and injection materials have been procured and are being distributed to health facilities and other strategic locations in the state.

“Emergency response team of the ministry has been activated and local government chairmen have been directed to set up and fund preparedness and response committees in their local government areas to coordinate response to COVID-19 infection in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health. 

“We are currently about to hold training sessions for these committees and will participate in town hall meetings in the three senatorial districts on this matter. Functional ambulances and rapid response teams are on stand-by to move suspected or confirmed cases, if any to the emergency operation centre at lkot Ekpene,” he added.

Ukpong, who assured that the emergency operation and treatment centre in Ikot Ekpene is ready to receive and care for any confirmed case of COVID-19 infection if it occurs, called on the people of the state to report suspected cases to the ministry.