The World Heal Organization, (W.H.O) has reactivated its COVID-19 response in Benue State.
Surveillance Officer Tuberculosis/ COVID-19 Response Coordinator, WHO office, Benue State, Mr. Israel Poopola who stated this during a media briefing in Makurdi said the world body intends to intensify COVID-19 intervention in the state in the areas of sensitization, laboratory testing and surveillance/risk communication.
He said the intervention is a two-month programme and is expected to run through August and September.
Poopola who noted that the pandemic is still very much around with a new variant called the Delta variant, appealed on the people to be more cautious in order no to put their lives at risk.
He expressed worry that there are still noticeable gaps in most communities in the state where people who are aware of the pandemic are no longer taking precautionary measures while many others are not availing themselves for testing.
While he appreciated the efforts of the state government since the first case was reported in Benue, Poopola said information available shows that early part of the year 2021, testing has gone down because majority of the population started relaxing and there was that thought that there is no more COVID-19 in Benue and in the country.”
He stated that such attitude is inimical to public health especially now that the new Delta Variant is discovered in parts of the country.
While stating that WHO is coming in to reactivate surveillance and ensure increased testing, Popoola said “WHO will also organize training and refresher sensitization sessions for five key personnel in each of the 23 LGAs of that state for surveillance efforts of the response.
“The support will cover testing and shipment of samples from the various LGAs to the two testing sites in the state; NAF Base Hospital lab and the Federal medical Center laboratory.
He said for the risk communication, WHO will carry out sensitization of markets leaders and market women, IDPs camps and vulnerable population including the refugee camp in kwande LGA, among other programmes.
“We are also going to create awareness that there is a new variant of COVID-19 with us now in the country which is the Delta Variant which has already been confirmed in Lagos and Oyo states.”
He noted that the new variant does not show the normal symptoms for the classical COVID-19 which is cough and fever, adding that, “Most people with the new variant do not have cough or fever. They just have generalized body pains and weakness. There’s need to sensitize the general public about the fact that COVID-19 is still very much around, hence the need to adhere to all the safety protocols.
He urged Nigerians living in Benue to continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical measures of putting on their facemasks, regular hand washing and maintaining social distancing, avoid touching their faces and mouths to reduce cases of infection.
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Incident Manager, Risk Communication, and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ngishe Terungwa appreciated WHO for supporting state government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that initially, there was no lab in Benue and samples had to be taken to Abuja and number of testing started going down as a result of funding and other needs.
He, however, stated that WHO had to come in to help jumpstart testing in the state and expressed the hope that with this intervention, testing will be more rigorous in Benue and people will avail themselves for the vaccine.
State Risk Communication Officer, Mrs Helen Teghtegh also thanked WHO for relaunching of COVID-19 response in the state and assured that all resources that will be provided by the organization will be judiciously used.
