We have tested 29 persons in Benue for Coronavirus but no one came out positive – COVID-19 Committee

STATEMENT FROM BENUE STATE ACTION COMMITTEE ON COVID-19:

WE URGE THE PEOPLE TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST THE ANTICS OF RUMOUR-MONGERS AND MISCHIEF-MAKERS

The Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19 has noted with grave concern the activities of persons intent on peddling rumours and falsehood against the efforts of the Committee.

One of such persons, a Timothy Hembaor, went as far as alleging on the Facebook that the Chairman of the Committee, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Benson Abounu, and my humble self, the Committee’s Secretary, ignored several distress calls from him as well as from the Tor Tiv, HRM, Prof. James Ayatse, and the Tor Kwande, HRH, Chief Ambrose Iyortyer, over a suspected case of COVID-19 in Ushongo LGA.

There could be nothing farther from the truth and more unfortunate than this piece of mischievious fabrication which the author could have targeted to achieve nothing with other than incite mistrust in the people regarding the work of the Committee and possibly panic.

It is an open fact that both the Tor Tiv and the Tor Kwande had phone conversations with His Excellency, the Deputy Governor over the suspected COVID-19 case in Ushongo and prompt action was taken with samples of the suspect collected and dispatched for test in Abuja, the result of which is being awaited, and the suspect placed under Isolation.

Such unconscionable actions from citizens are most unpatriotic at times such as now when we are all facing the grave threat posed to humanity by the ravaging pandemic and need to close ranks rather than plot to subvert the system for ulterior motives.

The State Action Committee has remained astute at work round the clock to keep the state under surveillance for the possible detection of any case of the virus, and part of our efforts in this regard have been keeping open channels of communication with all segments of society round the clock.

Through the gracious support of the Governor, His Excellency, Samuel Ortom, we have been equipped and facilitated to carry out surveillance, tracking as well as collection of samples for tests, both in the urban and rural communities of the state.

So far we have responded promptly to distress calls in addition to intelligence from our surveillance teams and have collected a total of 27 samples which we dispatched for laboratory tests, with all of the results so far returned Negative, with the exception of the Index Case.

The following is a summary of our activities across the state so far;

1. In Ushongo LGA, we had 3 outings collecting 2 samples for tests, with 1 of the results returned Negative, while 1 is awaiting result. Two of the suspects are so far in Isolation and Quarantine.

2. In Gboko LGA, we had 3 Outings collecting 3 samples for tests, with 2 of the results returned Negative, while 1 suspect is awaiting result and in Isolation.

3. In Gwer West LGA, we had 1 outing collecting 1 sample for test with the result returned Negative.

4. In Makurdi LGA, we had 13 outings collecting 13 samples for tests with all of the results returned Negative.

5. At the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Agaan, Makurdi, we had 1 outing, collecting 1 sample for test, with the result returned Negative. Person, however died from other ailment.

6. In Konshisha LGA, we had 1 outing collecting 1 sample for test, with the result being awaited.

7. In Otukpo LGA, we had 2 outings collecting 3 samples for tests from a man and 2 members of his family, with the results returned Negative.

Also in Otukpo, we collected samples for test from a retired soldier, with the result returned Negative.

8. In Okpokwu LGA, we had one encounter on the case of a suspect who arrived there from Ghana in December, 2019. He was earlier diagnosed as diabetic and suffered complications. While being conveyed to Abuja for medical attention he died in transit and out inquiries discovered his remains were deposited at Gwagwa.

Following an interest from us to conduct an autopsy on his remains to determine his COVID-19 status, NCDC informed us that his corpse had stayed for more than 6 hours and results from an autopsy on it relative to COVID-19 will not be reliable. More importantly however, the case did not meet with case definition for COVID-19.

9. In Gwer East LGA, we had 1 outing collecting 1 sample for test from a Returnee from Legos, with the result returned Negative.

10. In Tarka LGA, we had 2 outings with 2 samples collected for tests, with the results returned Negative.

In the course of those we followed up on those we classify as Passengers of Interest, being persons who came into the state from Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and Malaysia. Results from tests on them all have been Negative with the exception of the Index Case.

We were also able to effectively place 25 Contacts of the Index Case under Supervised Self-Isolation, and following satisfactory results, all were discharged by 12th April, 2020, with the exception of one who had earlier absconded and was later brought into Self-Isolation.

We urge Benue people to continue to observe the basic safety measures of personal hygiene, such as frequent and regular washing of hands with soap and running water, use of hand-sanitiser, maintaining social distancing as well as observe the rules and regulations imposed by the lockdown on the state by Government.

We also advise the people against giving room to rumour-mongers and mischief-makers, and to all times approach the Committee with inquiry or information through the following telephone lines which remain open and active 24 hours;

* 09018602439
* 07025031214
* 08033696511
* 07037449837

Dr. Ongbabo Elaigwu Sunday
Hon. Commissioner for Health & Human Services/
Secretary State Action Committee on COVID-19.
18/4/2020.