(Ilorin)
Against the backdrop of some misconceptions being expressed in some quarters in Nigeria about COVID-19 pandermic,the Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Kwara State branch said “COVID is real” and called on the public to adhere strictly to protocols to check its spread.
The Chairman of NMA, in Kwara state, Dr Kolade Solagberu, made the call at a press briefing in Ilorin, on Monday, to mark 2020 Annual General Meeting of the branch of the association in the state.
Solagberu, who urged the public to change their perception that COVID-19 is false also called on the public to do the needful and obey the instructions as well to check the spread.
He said:”I have actually melt people saying that COVID-19 is not real, that it is used to embezzle money, something like that. From time to time, I try to engage them, particularly on my personal facebook wall and
also in NMA Kwara Facebook page.
“There was a time somebody posted on the facebook that, he didn’t believe that COVID-19 was real. From time to time, I engage people privately on social media.
“Although alot of people believe COVID-19 not real, I’m using this opportunity to tell them thatCOVID-19 is real.
“For instance, the Chief of Staff in the state that died, nothing government will gain by saying that he died not die of COVID-19,but that is the truth.
The chairman commended the state government for doing its best in putting measures in place to curtail the spread of coronavirus but called on the
public to see the prevention of the virus as a collective responsibility.
“It is just unfortunate that people have failed to realise the effort of the government, and also heed the advice of health experts on COVID-19,the state government has done its best,it has done tremediously well in the fight gainst COVID-19.
“We cannot succeed because government cannot be at every nook and cranny monitoring how we live our lives, it is better for us if we understand it now that, COVID-19 has come to stay with us.
“We should institutionalize hand washing machine as much as possible, the community people and the head of the family should make sure that there is hand washing machine with regular water supply.
“Hand sanitizer may not be sustainable for many people but if we have runny water, we can use soap and water to do hand hygiene and also ensure we wear facemask.
“You don’t even need to use the surgical mask, you can use the fabric facemask, it will still go a long way in preventing the spread of the virus, also physical distancing is very important.
“We want to encourage the people in the state and Nigeria at large to please maintain physical distancing, hand washing and wearing of facemask,all these protocols will help us along way in combating the COVID-19.”
While highlighting the the role NMA Kwara has played regarding the prevention of the virus, Solagberu disclosed that the association provided hand sanitizer and hand washing system containing a sink with runny water and soap.
“These are available for anybody coming into the secretariat to use. We have also inculcated this habit into our members, they have to wash their hands and use their facemask.
“We even provide facemask at a time so that if you forget to bring your own, you can easily take one and use and also from time to time we have been educating the public on the virus all in a conscious effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state among other efforts,”he added.
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