.…says no FG palliatives in Osun warehouses

The Osun Food and Relief Committee on CIVID-19 has siad that the Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) has not flagged off the distribution of palliatives in the State. 

The Committee disclosed this in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Committee, Alhaji Bayo Jimoh, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Osogbo, the State capital.

The statement reads in part: “I wish to place on record that CACOVID has yet to do any flag-off in Osun. CACOVID sent a programme of events to us in August in preparation for the flag off but it was later called off. 

“The last letter we wrote to them on behalf of the State was dated September 28, reminding them that the State had yet to receive the rice component of the donated items and that they should give the Committee further directives on the available ones since some of the items were perishable.

“We are sure that when they elect to clear the air on the status of their palliatives in the States, we shall be vindicated.They should come out with a list of the States where flag off had been done”.

The Secretary also clarified that the State does not have any Federal Government’s palliatives in any of its wear houses as they have all been distributed.

“For the umpteenth time,  I wish to reiterate that no Federal Government palliatives were delayed and none was kept in Ede Warehouse. The consignments we got from the FG have since been distributed. “Only CACOVID palliatives were housed in Ede Warehouse and we were asked to wait for the flag-off, hence, our inability to distribute before they were looted”, Jimoh said.

We are in receipt of information that the Warehouse in Ede, where we kept the relief materials donated to the Osun Food and Relief Committee by the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID), has been attacked and food items carted away.

It has therefore become imperative to put the records straight in view of the falsehood and the misinformation making the rounds about the donated relief items.

One, it is not true that the food items were hoarded.

Two, the food items have no direct bearing with the State Government, as they are within the purview of the Food and Relief Committee.

Three, the items can only be distributed after a formal flag-off by the CACOVID Office, Abuja. 

Four, we do not have the authority to distribute the food items without approval from Abuja.  

Besides, the Committee is still expecting the rice component of the donated items, which is 40, 230 bags of 5kg. 

All these are part of the reasons the items were still in the warehouse up till the time of the invasion.

The following items were donated: Pasta FMN – 29, 992; Pasta OLAM -10, 282; Noodles- 80, 644; Garri -40, 322; Salt- 40, 320; and Sugar – 40, 227. 

However, the rice components of the donated items are yet to be delivered up until now.

The Committee wrote to CACOVID as recently as September 28, 2020, reminding it of the rice component, which is yet to be delivered.

Part of the letter reads: “I wish to refer to our letter on the above subject and wish to request for the recent update on the rice component expected to have been delivered to the State, and also to seek your advice on the exact time the State should expect delivery, considering the fact that items already received into the Warehouse are food materials and are perishable with limited shelve lives.

“May I recall in our previous discussions that the delay experienced is due to increase in cost of rice and delivery, that the amount paid to suppliers could no longer cover cost of purchase and delivery to Osun. “

However, up until this moment, we are yet to receive response from CACOVID. 

This is the truth about the status of the donated relief items until their unfortunate looting.

Signed:

Alh. Bayo Jimoh

Secretary, Osun Food and Relief Committee

….okays Juma’at in mosque

The State Government of Osun having appraised how the state is currently faring with respect to the global health emergency, vis-a-vis the fact that Eid-el- Kabir and Juma’at fall on the same day, has announced that there would be no Eid congregation or prayers on Friday July 31. However, Juma’at service will hold in line with the existing safety protocols and guidelines.

The State of Osun is still recording rising figures of confirmed COVID-19 cases amidst an active community transmission stage of the pandemic. This coupled with the fact that people whose COVID-19 status has not been ascertained would be travelling into the State from different parts of the country, in the spirit of the celebration.

The State cannot afford the impact of any form of large gathering such as the kind expected at praying grounds  and the associated difficulties of enforcing the safety protocols against COVID-19

Our health managers are also worried by the recent surge in active cases , and have warned that the State could experience galloping figures due to continued disobedience of safety protocols if it allows any kind of specially high density gatherings or congregation.

The State Government does not want its citizens exposed to this dangerous infection, especially among the aged and those with underlying health conditions. 

The State Government of Osun is not relenting in its fight to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, and to rid the State of it. The government is, and will continue to take necessary actions towards ensuring the safety and security of its people.

The Governor and State Government of Osun wish all Muslim faithful a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration ahead.

Signed: Prince Wole Oyebamiji Secretary to the State Government

.…discharges 12 patients

The State of Osun Commissioner for Health,  Dr Rafiu Isamotu on Wednesday, announced the discovery of additional eight fresh COVID-19 cases in the State. 

He also confirmed the discharge of 12 patients from the State’s Treatment and Isolation Centres, just as he confirmed the death of one patient.

Dr. Isamotu while appealing to citizens and residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the State against the spread of the virus, noted that the new cases were contacts of previous cases in the State. 

He added that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State, as at July 22, are 367 with 175 active cases.  The Commissioner further revealed that the State had successfully treated and discharged 183 patients, while nine deaths have so far been recorded in the state.

Government of the State of Osun has commiserated with the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the people of the State, over the death of the State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro.

The State Government, in a statement signed by the Honorable Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, described the death of Dr. Adegbenro as unfortunate, given the conditions that necessitated it.

She further said: “As the Health Commissioner and Chairman of Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19 in the State, Dr. Adegbenro was undoubtedly a critical frontliner in the fight against COVID-19. His demise is therefore a great loss to Ondo State.

“It is on record that until his demise, Dr. Adegbenro pulled his weight as a distinguished medical professional to dutifully serve Ondo State”.

The State Government of Osun further commiserated with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State for the loss of one of his aides, whose role in the government is critical to the health emergency that the State and the nation at large are dealing with at the time. The State Government of Osun also  sympathises with the families of Dr. Adegbenro and the entire people of Ondo State, praying that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Government of the State of Osun on Thursday confirmed the discovery of 24 new cases in the State. 

The State’s Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, who made this known through a press statement in Osogbo on Thursday, also disclosed that 11 patients were also discharged from its Treatment and Isolation Centre same day after testing negative for the virus.

The Commissioner noted that the new cases were discovered following contact tracing of previous cases in the Ilesa, Ile Ife and Osogbo areas of the State. 

He appealed to citizens and residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the State against the spread of the virus.

The Health Commissioner also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 151 with  87 active cases.

“Lack of strict adherence to safety protocols and guidelines by our people is one of the main reasons for the sudden rise in our Covid-19 cases. But with the sentence of a defaulter to 30 days’ imprisonment, we have shown our resolve to enforce these safety protocols and guidelines. “With the latest development, the number of our active cases as at today, Thursday, July 2, is 87. We have 151 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 59 patients while five deaths have been recorded,” Dr. Isamotu added.

The State Government of Osun hereby reiterates that the second stint of the State-wide 14-day lockdown necessitated by the need to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in the State of Osun, is not a curfew but a TOTAL LOCKDOWN.

This by implication means that the State Government has not relaxed the order to accommodate human or vehicular movements at certain hours of the day during the period of the lockdown. The State Government considers defiance of this directive as civil disobedience.

Please be informed that all borders remain closed and interstate travels banned till further notice. All gatherings of any nature or density are not allowed. All functions and ceremonies, including burials, are put on hold. All markets remain closed, but traders are allowed to display their wares in front of their houses.

The State of Osun is not totally in the clear yet, especially with more confirmed cases reported in adjoining States. Hence, the State Government’s directive that its people stay at home in their own interest is a protective measure.

The State Government sternly warns that the State Emergency Regulation 2020 is in full force, and its full weight will be brought against anyone who runs foul of it.

The State Government of Osun says it has found the only person who reportedly absconded from the Isolation centre in Ejigbo earlier today. 

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, who made this disclosure in a statement this afternoon, said the woman has been returned to the isolation centre. 

She said that the State government was still in the process of tracing individuals she might have come in contact with. The Commissioner also noted that security within and around the Isolation centre has been beefed up . Mrs. Egbemode assured that the government would continue to enhance measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the State.

Our attention has been drawn to a story purporting that six persons were missing from our Isolation centre in Ejigbo. 

One of the writers quoted a non-existent statement from the government to lend some measure of credibility to the story. 

Nothing can be further from the truth. As a government, we have not issued any statement to confirm or deny such story. Besides, a quick check showed that the name and number of the first person on the list of the purported missing patients, is indeed currently in our facility in Ejigbo. 

Recall that  about a week ago,  we received 127 returnees from Ivory Coast and we have kept them since then to avoid community transfer of the virus. 

This morning we embarked on a headcount and found out that only one person could not be accounted for by officials stationed at the Isolation centre out of the 127 persons. 

The State Government is currently investigating the matter and will ensure that the missing person is brought back to the Isolation centre and we will also ensure we trace all his contacts.

We want to reiterate that any official(s) found culpable will also be dealt with accordingly.  

We implore members of the public to discountenance the alarm being raised. We will continue to do everything to protect the lives of our citizens in this fight against Coronavirus. 

Signed 

Mrs. Funke Egbemode  Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation.

….reiterates readiness to curtail the menace

The Osun State Government says the first and only confirmed case of Coronavirus in the State is in stable condition and responding positively to treatment. 
The government said the State medical personnel have been handling and managing the case professionally and that no severe symptoms had been traced to the patient. 
Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, disclosed this on Thursday shortly after the meeting of the State Government Technical Committee on COVID-19, at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
He noted that the patient has been helping in easing the job of the medical personnel as he personally surrendered himself for treatment even before his health status was confirmed.
Alabi who commended the patient for the high level of understanding and cooperation he has exhibited, said his action had assisted the state to implement its guiding principles against the deadly disease.
The deputy governor said the government had gathered useful information that would assist in contract tracing of persons that might have come in contact with the confirmed case. 
According to him, the state government had stepped up its guiding principles and control measures to curb the spread of the disease. He added that health workers have been put on their toes for optimum performance at the present critical moment. 
Alabi furrher said the government had equipped and strengthened the capacity of the Isolation Centre at the State Specialist Hospital, to handle suspected or confirmed cases. 
“Yesterday Mr Governor announced the confirmation of an index case of the Coronavirus and to this end, we have begun to be more proactive in combating the menace.
“We are working round the clock to strengthen our protocol and ensure that our guiding principles are tailored towards achieving the set objectives.
“On the confirmed case, no doubt the patient is responding to treatment and he is in stable condition. We have done the needful. He has been isolated to a place where adequate treatment will be given to avoid the escalation of the disease”, the Deputy Governor stressed.
In his reaction, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, said the medical personnel had been tasked to double their efforts in curtailing the spread of the pandemic in Osun. 

Isamotu added that the specialist hospital had been restructured for emergency cases, while cold cases would be treated in some of the other health facilities across the state.
“The State Isolation Center is absolutely secured. Presently, we are not attending to cold cases but emergencies as a sign of seriousness that we attached to the pandemic. We have equally warned the people who do not have anything to do to stay off the hospital. 
“And as part of our commitment to contain this disease, the state government has set up taskforce to man all the state land borders and conduct preliminary screening.
“We have also begun massive sensitisation exercise against the pandemic across the nooks and crannies of the state while the residents had equally been earned to refrain from embracing and hugging one another,” Isamotu added.