The Akwa Ibom State Government said its Quarantine and Movement Restriction order, which was meant to elapse on Sunday, 26 April would be reviewed on Monday, April 27 in a press briefing for the safety of the people.
It also urged health professionals in the state to be wary of self-care and administration of drugs especially in this period of COVID-19 pandemic and avail themselves of the health care facilities provided by the Gov. Udom Emmanuel-led government.
The Secretary to the State Government and Chairman COVID-19 Management Committee, Emmanuel Ekuwem, who stated this during the committee’s 8th COVID-19 update to journalists in Uyo, said the state government was worried by the spate of self-care and administration of drugs by physicians and its attendant consequences and warned them against owning up when the health situation becomes medically irredeemable.
According to the statement, “In view of the critical situation, we are in as a nation and state, although it could have been desirable to call off the lockdown at this juncture but given that we must continue to ensure continuous safety of our citizens, the most ideal thing to do now is to continue with the lockdown until Monday, April 27, 2020 where we will provide an update on the lockdown in a press briefing.
“To this end everyone is advised to cooperate with the government and the security agencies in the bid to curb community spreading of the disease.
“As the first responders to the Covid-19 pandemic, we implore our healthcare professionals to do all they can, to protect themselves. We have followed with deep concern, the spate of self-care and administration of drugs by some of our Physicians which has led to unpleasant consequences.
‘We wish to advise our healthcare professionals to avail themselves of the facilities provided by government to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and other medical challenges. Waiting until conditions are medically irredeemable, even if such has no connections to COVID-19, as has been the case in some situations should be discouraged.”
On palliatives by the state government, Ekuwem expressed sadness that people who never needed palliatives partook from the food items meant to ameliorate the hardship of the most vulnerable in the society.
He said, “May I, therefore, advise that anyone who is able to provide for himself and family at such time as this, should for the sake of humanity steer clear of such items, so that those who truly need the items can have more to themselves.”
He also attributed the pandemic to war situation were jokes were not entertained noting that few citizens have continued to make unnecessary calls to the Emergency operating Centre thereby obstructing genuine calls waiting to come in, adding that, citizens should learn to direct calls not related to COVID-19 to appropriate quarters other than the call centre.
He said though the isolation centres in Ikot Ekpene and the Ibom Specialty Hospital are in top shape to accommodate eventualities, yet the state government has intensified efforts at completing the 300-bed isolation centre at the General Hospital, Ituk Mbang.
He said the state government has expended huge resources to keep the state free of coronavirus and other diseases noting that they have embarked on the de-contamination of major towns and cities across the three Senatorial Districts of the state for the past two weeks.
