C-River: “We Sensitized Our People On Lassa Fever, COVID-19 January – Health Commission C-River: “We Sensitized Our People On Lassa Fever, COVID-19 January – Health Commission
Lagosreporter
Posted On May 1, 2020
By Ita Williams
Calabar
The Commissioner of Health, Cross River State, Dr Betta Edu has given
reasons why Cross River is maintaining its zero index case of COVID-19
saying the people were sensitized about Lassa fever and COVID-19 as
early as January. Dr Edu makes the comment during a media briefing with the journalists on Wednesday concerning COVID-19 fight in Cross River stressing that
Cross River started her campaign long before any case was recorded in
Africa and Nigeria. “Every state in Nigeria must not have it, Cross River is peculiar we started the campaign and regular sensitization early even before any case was recorded in Africa and Nigeria. We sensitized our people about Lassa fever and COVID-19 as early as January”.
The Commissioner decried that the state should be commended and not criticized or accused of not recording any COVID-19 case as the state continue its fight against the killer virus.
She also said it was really unfortunate that the state has been
“pressured into” recording a case of the pandemic by all means
necessary. The Commissioner lamented that some persons in the state received text messages asking them to claim to be COVID-19 infected and also call the NCDC just for the state to record a case.
In her words she maintained that: “It is not compulsory or a must that
Cross River must record a COVID-19 case, the pressure for us to have a
case is really getting out of hands”, assuring the good people of the
state continued COVID-19 index-free state”
Dr Edu commended Gov. Ayade for his unwavering support to the healthministry, saying it is through the governor’s supports that the
ministry reaches the milestones they are today.“We get to where we aretoday because of the unwavering supports from our amiable governor”
“We only received 50 sample collection kits from the Federal
government to use for a population of about 4.5million people, yet we
have been able to use the highest index in testing all suspected case.
People have come forward with text messages they received asking themto claim that they are COVID-19 positive, and they will be paid for
that.“Every state in Nigeria must not have it, Cross River is peculiar we
started the campaign and regular sensitization early even before any
case was recorded in Africa and Nigeria. We sensitized our people
about Lassa fever and COVID-19 as early as January”.
“We started the no mask, no mask issue that has now been adopted
nationally, we started our emergency response before any other state,
we closed our international borders before any other started, and we
also started screening visitors at our airports on time.
” Lesotho is in Southern Africa surrounded by countries with cases,
yet they have not recorded anyone case, Czech is in Europe yet their
Story is different, why is Cross River being criticized and
castigated.“Instead of so much castigation, we should be approached by the
government to understand what we are doing differently and our modus operandi and what we are doing differently.
“Let it also be on record that any NCDC official coming to Cross River
must be tested and quarantined for 14 days before they are allowed
entry because everyone is a suspect,” the commissioner said.
