As states take tougher measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus, the Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has expressed the readiness of his state to face the outbreak in the event index case is recorded.
The Governor in a broadcast to people of the State said even though he prays the virus does not creep into the state, arrangements have been put in place just in case an outbreak is recorded.
He highlighted some of the measures to include the preparation of isolation centres at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Amachara Specialist Hospital in Umuahia and others.
“My dear Abians, while we do not as yet have the virus in Abia State, necessity is laid upon us to prepare to manage it should it get here. Let me, therefore, assure us that we have prepared isolation centers at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Amachara Specialist Hospital in Umuahia. We have also readied a third Isolation center at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba and we are working to prepare another one in the Abia North Senatorial District of the State. This will come on stream within the week and you will be updated on the location. We are also working with a number of Private Hospitals to ramp up their capacity to render support should the need arise. All the 722 primary health care centers in the state are ready for the fight to combat this scourge” he said.
He also said he is monitoring the distribution of the critical medical supplies procured by the state Ministry of Health for distribution to health institutions and critical locations across the state, assuring that the distribution is going on well.
He also added, “I have also been assured that we have the critical drugs required to nurse patients back to health in the event that anyone tests positive to this virus. We are not praying to have any case but in the event of a case, we are ready to combat it.
“We have mobilized and kept on standby, 6 Ambulances capable of picking Abians showing symptoms from any part of the state and transporting them to the closest isolation centre
“Our State Tele-Health Response Centre is fully equipped to respond to enquiries as well as coordinate with all health care facilities in the state. First responders in all our 722 Primary Healthcare Centers across all 17 LGAs have been trained on how to prevent, identify, manage, control, report and follow-up any suspected Coronavirus cases in Abia State”.
