The Akwa Ibom state epidemiologist, Dr. Aniekeme Uwah, says the three weeks lockdown in Akwa Ibom state by the government has gone a long way to curb the spread of the dreaded Corona virus.
Dr. Uwah, made his opinion known while speaking on a one day intensive training workshop on response and ethical reporting of coronavirus for selected journalists in Uyo.
He explained that with more people staying at home, it makes contact tracing and self isolation more workable which has reduced the number of confirmed corona virus cases in Akwa Ibom state. Advising, residents to keep obeying the stay at home directive of the state government as doing so will help safe both themselves, love ones and the society at large.
Furthermore, the state Epidemiologist, Dr Aniekeme Uwah, hinted that the state has the challenge of unavailability and limited number of sample test kits and the stress of an eight hour drive to Ebonyi for the test but maintained that there are ready isolation centers in the state but only the one at Ibom Specialist Hospital is active due to space where other emergency Management meetings and other needed departments like the situation room can also be accommodated for easy communications and other centers activated of there be need for it.
Earlier, the Nigerian Medical Association chairman,Dr Nsikak Nyoyoko discribed the training for journalists as the only way to accord impact on the ongoing Lockdown policy of the state government.
According to him, the intention is to empower media men to inform the public right. The lockdown would not make impact if education of Akwa Ibom people is lacking. The major reason for the lockdown is for people to stay away from each other, not just to stay at home as we are now seeing people holding meetings while staying at home.
On the overview of Corona virus: Simple facts and figures Dr. Usenobong Morgan, while taking the trainees memory Lane on the outbreak of dreaded virus, lamented that as of 8AM today, Nigeria has only tested 8003 with Akwa Ibom state testing only fifty three (53) persons out of which nine were confirmed positive to coronavirus with one dead, three discharged and five active cases, still in the isolation center.
On his part, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State council, Comrade Amos Etuk said the training workshop was strategic as it has opened a new chapter towards a stronger Information management on Covid-19.
He pledged the union’s commitment to continue to partner the state government in the fight against Covid-19.
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