Interview Session with Ondo State Health Commissioner on #COVID-19 Update with Timothy Dehinbo
As at 27th of February, 2020, Nigeria recorded just a case of the deadly virus(Covid19) killing about 280,000 people globally. But due to the community spread of this virus, Nigeria now has about 4641 cases of coronavirus in which 902 patients have been discharged and 150 deaths recorded.
With this Statistics, Ondo state happens to have recorded 16 cases, as well as discharging 11 patients and also recording one death in which only 4 cases are still active in the state.
In this regard, Nationaldaily.ng had an interview session with the commissioner of health in Ondo state, Dr Wahab Adegbenro.
In this Interview with Timothy Dehinbo, he discusses on coronavirus updates in Ondo state, and the issue of health workers salaries that sprung up few days ago.
Interview Excerpts
I am aware we have about 16 active cases in Ondo, we have discharged about 11 and one death recorded, among the 16 cases, two are health workers. So basically, what would you say ONDO state doing fine in the handling of Covid19 in Ondo state?
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro: Well, serious treatment are going on in our Infectious Disease Hospital on our patients, the only death we had was because the patient had renal complication. However, one major problem about coronavirus that could lead to one’s death is when one has disorganized pathology in his/her body system. The chances of that person recovering from this deadly virus is very slim.
Some days ago, reports had it that health workers in the state had protest on salaries being owed, but the Governor few hours put out a tweet to say that he has made a request for funds in the state. What do you think of this?
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro: This issue has already been solved by the governor of the state, but what happened is that some of the health workers are recieving their salaries from the HNB in which the payment of the salaries are based from the state sector but some of the newly employed health workers are still payed from the IDR of the Teaching Hospital.
However, the Ondo state government lays more emphasis on payment of workers salaries, besides whatever comes first such as salaries of staffs will be taken care off, so whatever remains is what some organization will get as their stipends as so on.
Atimes, when the salaries of staffs are paid, there are lesser fund left as far as the stipends are concerned, but we have been working on moving the entire staff salaries of the teaching hospital to the state sector so that the health workers can also recieve their salaries when other civil servants are recieving theirs.
So, it will no longer be based on stipends and IDR but am sure within the next few days according to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the salaries affairs of the health workers will be settled.
How are you ensuring that Ondo residents and citizens take precautions in battling COVID-19 in the state?
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro: For now, it is an offence for one to be in the public without wearing one’s face or nose mask, one can be arrested by the police and as well charged to the mobile court for an appropriate punishment. Well, this is actually a measure for us to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Also we keep preaching that people should maintain physical distancing, ensure to always wash and sanitize their hands.
Do you think Ondo state is doing enough in terms of testing in the state?
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro: Yes, the Ondo state government are doing absolutely well on the part of conducting test to people because we have been tracing contacts from the covid19 patients in the state and as well conducting a test for them.
Finally, do you see any effect post COVID-19 in the state?
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro: We pray no disease comes after covid19 but we are ready for any eventualities.
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