Benue state government has approved another N100 million to the COVID-19 State Action Committee for further facilitate the fight against the spread of the virus.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi disclosed this on Sunday, while briefing journalists after a meeting of the committee in Government House, Makurdi.
The commissioner explained that out of the 100million, N20million will be used for the completion of the state isolation centre.
She further disclosed that the committee was able to get a company to donate a 200 bed isolation center to the state government while the Stallion Group has also donated bags of rice and fish to be distributed from Thursday to members of the public.
According to her, the state Governor, Samuel Ortom has also approved that health workers working during this emergency period be given some incentives to cushion the effects of putting their life on the line.
The Information Commissioner said the committee had expressed concerns that the state was having an influx of Cameroonian refugees into the state saying they resolved to put security pillars at the borders to carry out checks and ensure that Benue is not inhabiting COVID-19 escapees.
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She announced that apart from the monies approved by the state government to the committee, state government has also received several donations towards the fight against the coronavirus including 250,000 hand sanitizers, 1million from Benue state Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture, (BECCIMA), 1million from MIKAP Nig. LTD, as well as N28.5million from UBA among others.
Also speaking to newsmen, the State Commissioner for Health, Sunday Ongbabor said state government places more emphasis on preventive aspect of the COVID-19 adding; “we don’t want the virus to get into Benue state and we are calling on the people of the state to make the sacrifice especially as concerns social distancing, staying at home and ensuring high hygeine”.
Ongbabor said with the constituting of the LG committee, the state will station surveillance officers and provide temporary thermometers to check all those who will be coming into the state.
He called all Benue people not to panic as government is committed to deploying all resources to ensure the best services in the state.
The Health Commissioner also disclosed that the index case, Susan Okpe, has been tranfered to Abuja for further treatment while about 23 people who had contact with her have been traced and quarantined.
