The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia has said the state has commenced facility and community mobile-based screening for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Oredo Local Government Area (LGA).
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the commissioner said the move is part of efforts by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to prevent the spread of the infectious disease in the state, noting that the screening will be extended to other LGAs across Edo State.
Okundia, who noted that the state plans to begin house to house active case searching, said the screening exercise is an aftermath of the training of all health workers in the state.
He said over 30 communities have been visited for Active Case Search (ACS), while 305 contacts have been line-listed across the state.
Decrying the level of compliance to the state government’s directive aimed at preventing further spread of the disease, he urged residents to complement the government’s efforts at ensuring the health and safety of citizens.
Okundia said, “As part of efforts by the Edo State Government to curtail the spread of coronavirus, we have commenced facility and community mobile based screening for COVID-19 in Oredo LGA, which will subsequently be replicated in other LGAs. I want to assure you that this government has implemented measures to ensure that we curtail the spread of the virus.
“Health workers across the 18 LGAs have been trained, and will man the first set of 50 screening centres, as we are targeting at least three in each of the18 LGAs of Edo state. Soon, we will commence house to house active case searching, to be conducted by these trained health professionals.”
“While we step up efforts to contain this scourge, we urge all residents to stay at home and observe social distancing guidelines and other precautionary measures against the disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. If you must go out, do so wearing facemasks. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing. Also do well to report anyone with oversea travel history.”, he added.
