….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.

The State government of Osun, today, announced that all public gatherings in the state under any banner or organisation, are banned. This in effect means there will be no church services tomorrow, March 22, 2020.

This is in reaction to the increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infected individuals, and its gradual spread to other States of the country.

The State Government of Osun had initially announced a ban on public gatherings having 50 or more people, but today reviewed the position following the announcement of more confirmed cases by the Federal Ministry of Health.

SIGNED
Prince Wole Oyebamiji
SSG

The Government of the State of Osun has described as unfortunate and avoidable, the face-off between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed and Oba Dhikrulahi Akinropo, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa town, during a peace meeting at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 11, Bashir Makama last Friday.  

The government said it is aware that the State Traditional Council is looking into the matter.  It further stated that traditional rulers ought to protect and preserve the sacredness of traditional institutions. In a statement signed on Monday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode,  the government further noted that situations where royal fathers engage in public display of temperament do not edify the revered stools of our forebears.  

“We believe in the dignity of traditional stools and sacredness of royalty. We will continue to preach peace among all our citizens and harmonious relationship among our traditional rulers.  “Government is aware that the State Council of Traditional Rulers has stepped into the matter and we are confident that the council will take appropriate steps to preserve peaceful coexistence among the Obas in the state. We do not want any crisis in any part of the State,” the government added.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has pledged his continued support for women in the State of Osun by collaborating with the State Government to protect their interest.

The Monarch expressed this commitment during a courtesy call on him in his palace by the State Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Barr. Olubukola Olaboopo.

Oba Ogunwusi who enunciated his past efforts on women in the areas of health, empowerment and general well being, reiterated his commitment to continue to impact positively on the lives of women.

In the company of the Honourable Commissioner were Hon. Mulikat Abiola, the House Committee Chair on Women Affairs, Mrs Oyegbile, wife of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sanitation, Mrs Foluke Amere, Wife of the former House of Representatives member representing Iwo, Pharmacist Omolara Ajayi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Mrs Adedayo Adeaga, Councillor (former), Odootin Local Government

The Osun State Water Corporation (OSWC) has identified faulty transformer, generator, water pumps, electricity supply, blocked borehole and failure of the embankment as the reason behind lack of storage facility at the Ajagunlase and Igege Mini Water Schemes in Ola-Oluwa Local Government and Ola-Oluwa South East LCDA.

This disclosure was made during the continuation of the tour of facilities under the Ministry.

At Ajagunlase, it was discovered that the pump in the High Lift Station functioned last in 2010 and at Toto-Igege, the generator was serviced last in 2012.

The state water corporation also disclosed that another reason why the schemes were being maintained was because of the equipment which was

still serviceable and can be put to good use.

At Ajagunlase and Toto-Igege communities, the Commissioner commended both communities for ensuring that the equipment was protected from vandals and appealed for more cooperation in keeping the environment clean.

The Special Adviser on Water Resources and Energy, Engr. Ibitoye Felix Adeniran assured the communities that efforts would be made to make water available for them. He then sought the partnership of the council area to revive the projects.

The Ola of Ajagunlase, Oba Ismaila Gbadamosi Fabunmi and Onigege of Igege, Oba Kazeem Adio Orioye Oyediran II expressed their readiness to cooperate with the state government to better the lives of people in their communities. They however sought the intervention of the state government in providing water for their communities.