Coronavirus: We’ve 180 Field Workers, RSG Affirms

As part of measures to keep the state safe from the ravage of Coronavirus, the Rivers State Ministry of Health says it has engaged the services of 180 medical personnel on the field.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, disclosed this while appearing on a live radio phone-in programme organised by Silverbird Communications at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
In addition, he stated that serious attention was being given to the sea ports at Onne and Port Harcourt, as he cited the case of a ship whose crew were quarantined for two weeks before they were allowed to berth.
He said “We did not allow the crew to disembark until we confirmed that their tests were negative. So, we are not only concentrating on land borders.”
Speaking more on the personnel, Chike averted that they have been adequately trained and equipped.
The health commissioner explained that contrary to claims in some quarters, “Rivers State, for now, has only one case. The first one is now negative and has been discharged.”
He disclosed that the contact tracing of the first case commenced immediately, adding that this was able to check the spread of the virus.
Chike added, “Rivers State was the only state that started screening from the Domestic Wing of the airport, and so, it was easy to check community transmission.”
The commissioner frowned at the failure of the Federal Government to give support to efforts made by the state government to check the pandemic.
“Even when the Presidential Task Force visited and made promises; they have not given any support or assistance. If they claim to have assisted us, then, let them show us document of what they have given us.”
He explained that the temporary isolation centre at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium was donated by the private sector.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, has dismissed views that the Coronavirus Palliative Committee was being partisan in its activities.
“The committee is a representation of many sectors of the state, and it has made public its criteria such that all stakeholder groups at the ward level adopt it before the palliatives are distributed,” Nsirim said.