The fight against the novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, in Niger State has received a boost as an Emergency Operation and Communication Centre (EOC) has been inaugurated to upgrade the Public Health centre in the state.
The establishment of the EOC, is a partnership between the state government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The virtual commissioning was done by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello; and the USAID representative
Bello, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje, explained that the State Government recognises the scale and complexity of COVID –19 pandemic and the need to have the state-of-the-art operational facilities aimed at fighting the deadly virus head-on; adding that the rising cases and the fast-moving and changing situation necessitated the establishment of the centre.
According to him, a lot of resources have been mobilised to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the state, noting that even though recorded cases are on the increase, the state government will continue to develop new strategies to meet up with the evolving situation.
So far, he said, the state has recorded 59 cases of COVID-19, with 28 persons fully recovered, discharged and re-united with their families.
The Governor appreciated the USAID for the partnership in upgrading the PHEOC, and assured that this will further improve government’s response to COVID -19 pandemic and mitigate future outbreak of diseases, as well as enhance data collection for informed decision making.
He also pledged to continue to provide enabling environment for partnership that will impart meaningfully on the people of the state.
