Abia state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has just concluded the inspection of ongoing work at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Ogbor Hill, Aba, which is one of the newly designated isolation centers in the state.
Governor Ikpeazu expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the site and directed the state inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to ensure that the facility was ready and fully equipped by Friday to add to the other isolation centers already in place in the state.
Recall that the state government had earlier readied three other isolation centers in the state: Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Amachara, Umuahia, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia and Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, to manage and treat the unlikely emergence of coronavirus patients in the state.
Speaking to newsmen after the inspection, Governor Ikpeazu called on management of Federal
Medical Center, Umuahia, and other private hospitals in the state to stop the practice of turning away patients with common cough and other ailments but follow the practice guidelines regarding the management of COVID-19 patients. He directed the State Commssioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, to investigate a petition received from a relative of one of the patients turned away by FMC who reportedly died as a result of abandonment.
He assured that the state has the resources to nurse any COVID-19
patient back to good health and called on those who suspect they have the virus to call 0700 2242 362 for immediate attention.
Governor Ikpeazu who informed that with the Executive Order signed by him on the management of COVID-19, it is illegal for anyone to leave his house without wearing a face mask until the pandemic is brought under control.
On border closure, the Governor informed that he has directed men of the Homeland Security in the state to take primary responsibility for sealing the state borders while other security agencies support them. He vowed to deal with union leaders of motor parks in the state still allowing operations of inter-state buses during this lockdown.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the state Commissioners for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, Homeland Security, Prince Dan Okoli and Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, among other top government officials.
