The Edo State Government has urged residents to take advantage of the mobile post screening exercise, which has begun operations in Oredo Local Government Area, to get themselves screened for coronavirus (COVID-19), as the state ramps up efforts to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Team Lead for the Mobile Post Screening and Treatment Centre at the Government House in Benin City, Great Owojie, said the exercise is designed to bring screening for coronavirus closer to the people.
He said the centres will complement ongoing screening at six selected Primary Healthcare Centres and four private hospitals in Benin City.
According to him, “The centres are styled to conduct massive case search across the state beginning with Oredo LGA in the pilot phase. Similar activities will be embarked on across the 12 wards of Oredo LGA.
“The team in each mobile testing centre include medical laboratory scientist who conducts the screening; mobilisers who go to residents to urge them to come for the screening at the centres; contact tracers, who keep in touch with the contacts, and the risk communication officer who interfaces with the patients.”
He added, “The data we get from the screening will inform how long the screening will last. As we continue with the exercise and results begin to come in from Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), we will get indications if there are more cases in the population. If that doesn’t happen, we will move to another geographical location.”
He said if at any time someone feels symptomatic, they are free to visit any of the centres for the screening and test, noting, “The essence of the mobile post screening is for active case search. If we must break the circle of transmission of the virus, we must test as many persons as possible so that those who are positive will be placed on treatment.”
Executive Director, Edo State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (EDOSACA) and member of the screening team, Mrs. Flora Oyakhilome, said the state government has put the necessary tools in place to ramp up screening of Edo residents.
