During the flag-off of free distribution of 700,000 face masks to vulnerable groups by Bauchi State Governor recently.
…says it is compulsory for workers to put face masks to work
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed has flagged off the free distribution of 700,000 face masks to the vulnerable members of the society.
In his speech while flagging off the distribution at the Multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi on Thursday, he disclosed that the state government’s initial plan was to distribute one million face masks but “the challenges of space and logistics only permitted the production and distribution of 700,000.”
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Baba Tela, said that he has directed the 20 Local Government Caretaker Chairmen to produce 200,000 and also distribute to the people in their councils.
He directed all civil servants in the state to always wear face masks stressing that “it is now become mandatory for civil servants to wear face masks and come to work.”
He said, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and bring it to an end in the state, his administration planned to conduct 100 COVID-19 tests daily in the state.
Mohammed reiterated the commitment of his administration towards the provision of quality healthcare to the people of Bauchi State, adding that one of the government’s strategies of fighting COVID-19 and other diseases was the establishment of the Bauchi State Molecular Reference Laboratories (LEACH) at the State Specialist Hospital and at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, in collaboration with the North-East Development Commission.
He said that other strategies include prompt isolation and hospitalized case management of all confirmed cases, contact tracing, active surveillance, risk communications strategy and provision of three square meals to all isolated patients.
He said: “The ceremony which we are witnessing today is the distribution of locally produced face masks is a very significant milestone in checking the spread of Covid-19 at the community level. The beneficiaries are among the most vulnerable members of our society.
“Furthermore, the State Government has directed the 20 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen to produce 10,000 face masks each and distribute accordingly.
“Government has also concluded arrangement to commence community active case search (Community Testing) in three Local Government Areas of Bauchi, Kirfi and Bogoro.
“This is in line with NCDC guidelines of actively testing people to ensure that the virus has been eradicated in the community before the State will be certified Covid-19 free.
“Based on this strategy, a minimum of 100 people will be tested everyday until we are sure that the virus is not hiding in any part of the State.”
The governor said that the protocol of the National Center for Disease Control on combating the spread of this disease among others, requires physical distancing, wearing of face masks, contact tracing and isolation or quarantine.
“Let me use this opportunity to we are still under the grave threat of this disease. The more we use these face masks, the less likelihood we will be in contracting the disease.
“Another important measure I must be quick to remind us is the use of washing your hands constantly with soap and running water or the use of hand sanitizers. Remember I am the first index case where I was in isolation or quarantine for twenty days,” he stated.
Mohammed recalled that his Deputy, the Commissioners of Finance and Local Government and even his close friend in the State were equally infected with coronavirus.
He said that it is incumbent on everyone to take every measure in containing the spread of the disease seriously.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro, also empathized the need for the people to adhere to the NCDC’s protocols on COVID-19.
He said that most of those infected in the state have recovered and have been discharged from isolation stressing that the state has a recovery rate 94.7% which is one of the highest in the country.
According to him, the case fatality rate in the state is still 13 people accounting for just 2.43% of the total cases recorded in the state since March 24th was the index case was recorded.
The Chairman of the Palliatives sub-committee of the Bauchi State Task Force on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, Dr. Rilwan Adamu commended Governor Mohammed for his commitment towards fighting the deadly disease in the state.
Adamu who is also the Emir of Bauchi said: “As the fight against the spread of deadly coronavirus intensifies, His Excellency, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has been actively involved in the situation through the State Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Sen. Baba Tela.
“He provided all the needful in terms of PPEs, hand sanitizers, face masks, hand wash dispensers, etc to the general public with a view to curtailing the spread of the virus.
“As the Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers, I say a big thank you to His Excellency for the good job he has been doing to move Bauchi forward.”
He called on the people of Bauchi to abide by all the measures put in place by the state to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that some of the groups who received the face masks during the ceremony included the six Emirate Councils – 21,000, Health Workers in the 323 wards – 48,300, Teachers – 52,500, Security Agencies – 31,500.
Others were Jama’atul Nasril Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria, 14,000 and 8,000 respectively, Artisans and Trader’s Association and Keke NAPEP Operators Association – 8,000 each, NURTW and RTEAN – 5,000 each while the Nigeria Correctional Service got 4,200 pieces.