Covid-19: Gombe tests 52,000
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Gombe State Epidemiologist, Dr. Nuhu Bile, says no fewer than 52,000 residents in Gombe have been tested of Coronavirus, translating to 2 percent of the total population.
Bile said as part of effort to safe guard students schooling in the state 18 boarding schools out of 20 have been upgraded to safe spaces.
However, based on statistics Gombe State population is estimated at 3.5 million.
The state epidemiologist made this disclosure on Tuesday, during the take off initiative with State, Federal Government and UNICEF, geared towards bringing students back to school for continuity and effective provision of quality education.
The collaboration is tagged “Back to School Campaign/ COVID-19 Response.
According to him, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and Gombe state have responded positively towards mitigating the effects of Corona virus through ensuring the protection and safety of lives of people in the state.
He said, “We have tested over 52,000 people translating to 2% of the total population in the state which is a record achieved as the directive that every state should ensure testing at least 1%.
“The state has provided School Safe Spaces in 18 out of the 20 boarding schools in the state, thanks to the Governor and the Deputy Governor who happens to be the Chairman of COVID-19 management committee.”
Also speaking, Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau, said the program was part of strategies that include quick-fix actions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in our schools.
He said, “We are aware that after the COVID-19 lockdown , about 5 million children were not attending schools as a result of closure owing to various reasons such as fear by some parents of their children’s safety in schools, lack of resources to return to school, teenage marriage and pregnancy, and peer group influence.”
He reiterated that the campaign was to advocate to all education stakeholders, to enlighten and sensitize parents and care givers that government has provided facilities and structures to ensure the safety of every child in schools across the state as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hand sanitizers, face masks, and soap among others were distributed to all our schools.
On his part, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi field Office, Dr. Tushar Rane, commended the Government of Gombe State for its prompt response to the novel corona virus pandemic.
Represented by Hajiya Maryama Dikwa, the UNICEF chief said lauded the efforts of stakeholders in reducing the spread of Covid-19.
He said the collaboration developed a work plan on safe school operations for the implementation of back to school campaign aimed at minimising the negative impacts of schools closure,
psychological impacts, gender based violence in schools.
“In an effort to prevent spread of the disease, through ensuring closure of schools and engaging the public to practice social distancing, stay at home, and practice of personal hygiene to stem the spread of the virus,” Rane said.
