Enugu Tasks Residents On Covid-19 Test

The Enugu State Government has urged all residents of the state to go for COVID-19 test for effective prevention and cure.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, made the appeal  in a statement issued in Enugu on Monday.
Obi explained that the number of samples tested at various sample collection centres would help the government to plan for intervention.
He noted that sample collection centres were in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, advising that people should go to the centres to get tested.
According to him, government is not happy with the response it is getting from the sample centres because people are not coming out for tests.
His words, “We need correct figures and data from the sample centres to work effectively.
“When you get tested, you provide valuable evidence and data for us to work with.
“The data for public health helps in our responses, it is about the number of cases that determine the action the ministry of health, the government and stakeholders should take.
“If we do not have the correct data, we will not be taking the correct responses,” he added.
The international partners and agencies that help to support disease control in the world, he went on, work with figures and data.
The commissioner further stated that one of the best ways to prevent the pandemic was the use of non-pharmaceutical measures, which include all the COVID-19 rules.
He pointed out that non- pharmaceutical intervention included the same old hand washing, wearing of face mask, physical distance, using sanitisers, among others.
“It is important for us to wear face masks to avoid getting the virus as well as saving others,” he said.
Obi, however warned against residents going to take vaccines from unauthorised places or persons in the state.
He added that all vaccinators must have due authorisation and authority paper from the ministry.
He called on residents to allay fear from people on the COVID-19 Vaccine.
“People with negative conspiracy theories on the anticipated Federal Government COVID-19 vaccine should stop the rumour.
“We are here as a ministry to safe-guard the health of our people and lead them to the right path that would continue to guarantee their health and well-being,’’ he assured.
The commissioner therefore thanked all health workers in the ministry for their tireless effort in fighting against the pandemic in the state.
He explained that as at February 1, 2021 the Enugu state has a total number of 1,738 non confirmed cases, 1,421 of discharge cases, active cases stands at 296 while the number of deaths is 21.