The Ogun State Government has commissioned an additional 100- bed isolation and treatment center for Covid-19 patients with a firm assurance that the facility will further increase the state capacity to fight the pandemic.
The center, which is a donation from the private sector Coalition Against Covid-19 ( CACOVID), sits in the Oke-Mosan area of Abeokuta, the State Capital.
Speaking at the Commissioning, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said the state government now has over 300 beds across its isolation and treatment centers, describing the donation as a milestone in the State’s response to Covid-19 since the government woke up to the index case on February 27, 2020.
Coker recalled how the State which has the longest standing Emergency Operations Center ( EOC) in the country sprang into action to address the index case and prepare the four walls of the Gateway State in the event of any outbreak of Coronavirus.
She said that the present administration which has strategically set up isolation and treatment centers in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ikenne and Iberekodo in Abeokuta for high risk and low risk cases respectively, said that the new facility will basically take care of low risk cases.
Dr. Coker pointed out that the private sector gesture will further boost the State’s capacity to fight the pandemic, adding that the donation of the much sought after equipment, including mobile x-ray, multi-parameter patients monitoring equipment, among others, will strengthen the State’s health sector after the Covid-19 saga.
Acknowledging the generousity of CACOVID,the Commissioner assured that the resources will be efficiently used, noting that the state government will continue to test and treat cases accordingly.
In his remarks, the Representative of CACOVID, Mr. Ademola Bilesanmi, described the Covid-19 pandemic as a global issue which called for the support of the private sector to complement government efforts.
Appreciating the Prince Dapo Abiodun led government for the creative approach it had deployed so far in addressing the pandemic in the state, Bilesanmi thanked the present administration for the partnership opportunity at this critical moment.
