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Civil Society Organisations and other critical stakeholders have deplored the absence of a coronavirus test centre in Delta State amid the pervasiveness of the deadly disease nationwide.
In a statement after the launch of their situation room to monitor and report responses of the pandemic, the groups stated that the state should ordinary own a facility while awaiting the promise of the Federal Government to set up a centre in ever state of the federation.
Signed by the Situation Room’s co-chairman, Bonny Akaeze and Joint Secretary, Joshua Ghereja, the CSOs regretted that avoidable deaths had been recorded in the state, adding, “Harsh government policies are inflicting more pains on the citizens, as there are no adequate measures in place to cushion the effects on the populace.”
They said: ” As we commend the state government for the Isolation centres put in place in Asaba, it is our considered opinion that those centres are inadequate. This is because the state ought to prepare for the worst so as not be overwhelmed should there be an upsurge in the spread of the virus.
“The state food bank is a welcome development and should be maintained. While we commend the palliative measures put in place by the government, we wish to recommend that efforts should be made towards effective and efficient distribution of these food items to the vulnerable in our society.”
The organisations lamented that most residents seemed not to understand the effects of the COVID-19 scourge yet, noting that social distancing was yet to be practised in markets and public gatherings in the state.
They further observed: “It has also become evident that some of the measures adopted by the government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic are inflicting survival challenges on the citizens with the potentials of engendering criminality and associated vices. We therefore recommend a review of those measures with a view to dealing with the noticed latent consequences of the measures.”
The groups, however, stressed the need to step up sensitisation on government responses, personal hygiene, sanitation tips as well as roles of citizens in the fight against the virus, especially in the rural areas.
They equally called on government to monitor closely the activities of security agents assigned to enforce the lockdown order to check their excesses.
The CSOs went on: “All public places like motor parks, markets, shopping malls, super markets as well worship centres, night clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants, event centres, schools and factories that are currently on shutdown should be fumigated to ensure that they are microbe-free before their reopening.”
