Nelson Ogbu
Benue State Government is now considering the enforcement of the use of facemasks in order to prevent rising cases of coronavirus infections in the State.
Benue State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Action Committee on COVID-19, Engr. Benson Abounu, disclosed this to newsmen today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a press briefing.
He stated that one of the most effective preventive measures of the novel virus was the use of facemasks which practice he noted has been neglected by the people, hence the need for enforcement.
Abounu who said 100,000 face masks procured by state would be distributed to people across the state towards the end of the week advised citizens to always wear masks while leaving their homes.
He revealed that the State will soon get a COVID-19 mobile testing centre as a drastic way of expanding the net for detection of cases of the pandemic adding that the arrangement for was championed by the Northern Governors' Forum which would make the mobile testing centres available to each of the Northern States at the cost of $384,000 US Dollars per unit stressing that Benue was only required to pay N8 million monthly for 24 months.
Engr. Abounu, who lamented the high risk of community transmission of the virus in the state due to negligence of preventive measures especially the use of facemasks, also attributed the trend to the easing of lockdown by states and the Federal Government.
The Deputy Governor who confirmed 47 cases of the virus in the state as at June 24, 2020, said 26 males and 21 females were affected, out of which 16 have been treated and discharged with 30 currently receiving medical attention at the treatment and isolation centres in Benue State University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.
According to Engr Abounu, Benue recorded 12 cases as the highest number in a day, stressing that a particular family recorded six cases as many still believe that either the virus does not exist or it is only for the rich in the society.
While acknowledging the need to take adequate care of medical personnel in charge of testing and management of patients, the Chairman, COVID-19 State Action Committee said a total of five medical doctors, two drivers and a supporting staff had so far tested positive to the virus in the state.
The Deputy Governor further explained that the alleged fatality due to COVID-19 in the State was being treated for leukemia - cancer of the blood and bone marrow disease, pointing out that few days to his death, he was coughing profusely and had to be tested for the virus, only for the result to return positive a day after he died.
Engr. Abounu stated that Benue had so far spent over N240 million in the fight against COVID-19 and had also done well in terms of contact tracing, adding that in the alleged fatality case, over 100 contacts had been traced and samples collected for testing.
