NCDC officials storm Cross River to assess state’s effort in fight against COVID-19

Officials from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health, and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) have arrived Cross River State.

The team led by Dr Omobolanle Olowu from the Ministry of Health headquarters arrived on Monday and moved straight to the State Ministry of Health for interaction.

The team, DAILY POST gathered visited Garment Factory, CALAFARM, Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Primary Health Centre, Mayne Avenue, General Hospital, Teaching Hospital, and Training Centre at UNICAL, and TINAPA Isolation Centre.

The visit, according to officials was to assess the State’s effort in the fight against COVID-19. The team was conducted round the isolation centre at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, testing laboratory at Infectious Diseases Hospital, IDH, and General Hospital by the Commissioner of Health who is the Chairman of COVID-19 in the State.

Briefing the team on the state’s activities since the country recorded index case on February 27, 2020 following the outbreak of the pandemic, Dr Betta Edu, said, “The state has put some measures in place to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“The State has collaborated with the UCTH, and all medical and para-medical associations such as Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, medical laboratories, nurses and pharmacists in the area of training and retraining.

“To further fight the spread of the pandemic, the state has set up over 50 monitoring teams stationed at strategic points and at border villages,” adding that 3 isolation centres and 120 bed spaces have been provided by the state in case of any outbreak.

She added that it was high time the team made recommendation for the patronage of Calabar Garment Factory for the production of nose masks and PPEs and solicited for the cooperation of the federal government in equipping the centres and in the area of PPEs.

Responding, the team leader, Dr Omobolanle Olowu, commended the state for its swift responses so far, stressing that the team would work with the state to achieve positive results. The inspection will continue on Tuesday with a visit to the boundary between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.