Ogun Partners FG To Feed 60,000 Pupils, Insures 8,000 Health Workers

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

Over eight thousand health workers in Ogun State have been enrolled for life insurance policy to further motivate the frontline workers in combating the spread of Coronavirus pandemic across the state.

This was in line with the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA) resolution for insurance for health workers.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who disclosed this while briefing members of the Assembly on government’s efforts towards reducing the spread of the pandemic by her ministry.

Dr. Coker noted that government has also finalized incentive packages for the frontline health workers during the pandemic.

While reeling out strategies for the containment of the virus in the state, the Commissioner stated that as at today, 700 contacts has been tested, out of which 137 were confirmed positive, with 59 of them treated and discharged, 70 active cases and five fatalities recorded.

She acknowledged that available facilities at the centres has made response to the pandemic steady in the state.

On the modalities for the establishment of the five isolation centres situated in Sagamu, Ikenne and Abeokuta, Coker clarified that such was in line with the international standard practices in establishing such centres close to tertiary health facilities.

In the same vein, Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Barr. Femi Ogunbanwo revealed that over 60, 000 school pupils currently at home would be fed within the next two weeks under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government.

Ogunbanwo explained that the intervention would be done through collaboration with necessary stakeholders including the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) and local government councils at 290 designated distribution centres in the various wards across the state.

He clarified that the distribution of the palliative was done for the people without political consideration, adding that within two weeks, over 2,400 household has been enlisted in conditional cash transfer for the ongoing National Social Register of the Federal Government in the state which has not been achieved the the last nine years. He assured that the state’s 100,000 target would be achieved within the next few weeks.

This according to him was with a view to cushioning the effect of the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

In his response, Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo challenged the commissioners to improve on every measures at combating the spread of the virus.

Oluomo reiterated that the ninth Assembly would continue to collaborate with the executive arm at ensuring that the state flatten the curve of the pandemic.

Furthermore, Oluomo tasked residents of the state to adhere strictly to guidelines put forward by health personnel including the maintenance of social distance, use of facemask, hand washing and other hygienic practices amongst others.