Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Monday visited isolation facilities in Jos to ascertain their preparedness in handling Coronavirus cases in the event of any confirmed incident.
The Governor began his inspection visit to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where he was received by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Edward Banwat, who took him round the facilities.
He first inspected the laboratory for production of hand sanitizers at the hospital where he was told that they have the capacity to meet the demands of the state and beyond.
At the Isolation Unit, he was informed that the facility has capacity for 20 patients at a time with room for expansion. However the facility has only two respirators, which are grossly inadequate.
He immediately directed the acquisition of 4 additional ventilators to increase the capacity of the facility.
Lalong also visited the Plateau Public Health Emergency Centre located at Lugard Road, Jos where he was shown the tracking capacity covering the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor was also at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos to inspect the isolation facility of the hospital.
He was taken round by the Chief Medical Director Prof. Eswin Isiegbe who said the centre has a capacity for 10 patients and is in need of equipment and consumables such as ventilators and respirators.
He also took the Governor round the infectious disease facility being constructed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control in the Teaching Hospital, which he said would increase the capacity of the institution to handle such cases.
Governor Lalong promised to provide two ventilators for the Isolation Centre and also assist the hospital build capacity for effective response.
At the Plateau Specialist Hospital Jos, which is the third designated isolation facility for the treatment of Coronavirus in the State, Governor Lalong was received by the Chief Medical Director Dr. Philemon Golwa, who informed him that the facility has capacity for 20 beds with room for expansion.
However, the challenges of ventilators, respirators and manpower were also raised which the Governor immediately promised to address as he directed the purchase of 2 ventilators for the centre.
Governor Lalong later spoke with journalists where he expressed satisfaction with the state of preparedness of the State to respond to the Corona virus disease.
He said, “We thank God that so far, we do not have any confirmed case in Plateau State, yet we have to prepare ahead looking at what is happening in other states and outside the country.
“We shall do everything possible to ramp up our capacity to respond effectively as we did with Ebola and with lassa fever which we have contained very well.”
The governor, however, appealed to the citizens of Plateau State to cooperate with the directives of Government and relating to ban on large gatherings and closure of schools as well as personal hygiene and contact.
He warned that the Government will not hesitate to deal decisively with anybody who violates the directives of Government aimed at protecting the citizens of the State from the dreaded disease.
