Lokoja
Kogi State Government has been called upon to join hands with the global efforts toward curbing the spread of COVID-19 by setting up a State Health Security Response Team.
The Executive Director,Socio Economic Research and Development Centre, (SERDEC), Mr Tijani Abdulkareem, made the call in a statement on Friday in Lokoja.
He said noted that Coronavirus 2019, declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as pandemic, had caused harm to the socio-economic activities; disrupting financial market, and the collapse crude oil pric.
The executive secretary also said that the disease had forced global economies into recession with several deaths and thousands quarantined.
According to him, with the growing cases of pandemic in Nigeria, the Federal Government is shutting down schools, cancellation of worship services, restriction of movement/travels, encouraged self isolation and promoted social distancing.
He said that in preparation to tackle the virus within Kogi State, the state government needed to have a coordinated action plan and precautionary measures.
Abdulkareem suggested that the measures could be designed by a State Health Security Response Team that would monitor and track suspicious cases from within communities.
He said that the response team would also provide the right information, set up strategic communication campaign to educate the people of the state on public hygiene, discourage social gathering.
According to him, the response team will also provide information on events, suspension of oversea travels by state officials among others.
SERDEC expressed solidarity with the global community and health workers, who at the risk of their health saving lives with a call on citizens, religious and traditional leaders, community based organizations to spread the message on personal hygiene.
”This is not a period of panic but to act together to provide the right information, report suspicious cases, embrace social distancing and maintain hygiene behaviour as precautionary measures toward combating the spread of the virus.”
