The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private sector initiative meant to fight the pandemic, on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, donated medical equipment and beddings to Ondo State Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH).
In his welcome address, the Head of the state COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. Busari Ismail disclosed that 10 patients were at the centre undergoing treatment, while three suspected cases were at the isolation centre.
He said though the three suspected cases had tested negative, they would still need to run another test before they could be discharged if found negative.
Representative of CACOVID in the state, Mr. Akinbode Akinola, in his statement, revealed that the group donated 100 beds, 100 mattresses and other bedding accessories to the IDH some of which are already in use in the Wards.
CACOVID is a coalition of private organizations, cutting across banking and manufacturing organisations, including Dangote conglomerate, Access BankPlc, United Bank for Africa Plc, MTN among others.
He conducted journalists round the facilities where some of the beds and accessories were installed.
In the Ward, there were bed monitors, sphygmomanometers and Pulse Oximeters.
According to the CACOVID representative, the Coalition donated 25 sphygmomanometers, 25 oximeters used to measure the pulse of the patients, five sets of bed monitors.
He explained that the donations became necessary considering the rate at which the virulent Coronavirus is spreading and claiming people’s lives.
Akinola said it is believed that governments could not handle the issue alone, hence the support by the Coalition.
According to him, the items donated were meant to help in the treatment of the confirmed and suspected patients so that people won’t die due to lack of or insufficient equipment at the IDH.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro appreciated the Coalition, calling on corporate organizations and philanthropists to join government in fighting COVID-19.
The state governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, who officially received the donations appreciated the coalition for the gesture.
He said: “This gesture will linger on in our heart in Ondo State for coming to help us at this critical time.”
Akeredolu noted that the state government would not relent in its efforts to seek assistance from corporate organizations and private individuals to fight the dreadful virus.
The governor, therefore, charged the people of the state to adhere strictly to all the precautionary measures being handed down by government to check the spread of COVID-19.
He emphasized on maintaining social distancing, stay-at-home, hand washing and use of face mask to check the spread of the virus.
Akeredolu tasked all security agencies monitoring the state borders to ensure that vehicles that are not conveying food items should not be allowed into the state.
He advised the people of the state to shun non-essential journey pending the period the pandemic would subside.
