The Edo State Government has said it plans to establish 54 screening centres in the 18 local government areas of the state with three centres in each of the local government areas.
It explained that the move was part of efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Patrick Okundia, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said health workers and other public health professionals had been trained to manage the centres, with the training spreading to different LGAs in the state.
Okundia said the centres, along with the four major testing facilities, including the Stella Obasanjo Hospital; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital and General Hospital, Auchi, would serve as examination points to determine whether residents would need to go for further tests for COVID-19.
He said, “The Edo State Government has been very scientific and professional in handling the disease and we are recording significant successes. We broke our approach into two, namely prevention and treatment. We laid our emphasis on the need to prevent the spread through mass sensitisation and awareness creation.
”Where we are now, is enforcement and we have charged all security agencies to ensure enforcement. The state has four designated isolation centres, including the Stella Obasanjo Hospital; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital and General Hospital, Auchi, with all equipment needed for a functional and effective isolation centre and we are working assiduously to increase the numbers.
“We have commenced the process of creating more screening centres with three in each LGA and training is currently ongoing in each LGA for the health professionals who will work in these centres.”
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has urged residents to report persons who recently returned to the state from overseas to relevant health authorities through the emergency help lines to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the state.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said it became necessary for residents to report returnee friends and family members to safeguard the health and safety of other residents following the rise in cases of COVID-19 in Edo State.
He said, “We are appealing to residents to provide information on their neighbours and family members who recently returned from overseas to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
“We must also continue to observe the government’s guidelines against the spread of coronavirus which include the work-at-home order for civil servants, closure of social gatherings of persons above 20 and markets, excluding those trading in essential commodities and imposed stringent guidelines for transporters and hoteliers.”