UBTH begins mass production of sanitisers as ASUU donates to Edo govt

• A’Ibom to provide relief materials, food items in villages

Management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has disclosed that mass production of liquid soap and hand sanitisers for members of staff has commenced at the facility.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Professor Darlington Obaseki, who was represented by Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Professor Casmir Omuemu, disclosed this at a media briefing in Benin.

His words, “We produce over 1000 bottles of sanitisers daily for staff members and we are really getting prepared to deal with this pandemic in the country. Everybody has to put in effort to fight this disease. This fight is not for hospitals alone.

“We appeal to good-spirited Nigerians to join us in the battle and support the hospitals in the fight of this pandemic. As the number of cases increase, also we expect that equipment will increase.

“Presently in the hospital, we have 12 beds that have been activated and we also have an extra space, which can be expounded to accept at least 40 patients.”

Relatedly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has donated hand sanitisers, washing soaps, buckets and receptor containers to the Edo State government to help contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.

National President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, also commended the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Lillian Salami, and her team for their support following the robust relationship between the institution and its members working in laboratories to produce hand sanitisers and other items for COVID-19 intervention.

Ogunyemi, who was represented by Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Benin Zone, Professor Fred Asumeh, while presenting the items at Government House, Benin City, said the gesture was to assist government and the people in the fight against coronavirus.

Receiving the donation, Secretary to State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, commended ASUU for the gesture, noting that the country was in a critical state, which demands that all hands must be on deck to end the scurge.

Also, Edo State chapter of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has commended the state government in its efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the state particularly fumigation of markets across the state.

A statement issued by MWAN, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin and Secretary, Dr. Nkemdilim Okonji commended the state government fumigation of markets currently ongoing across the state.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State government has concluded plans to provide relief materials and food items such as rice, garri, flour and other essentials to its citizens.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, disclosed this while providing an update on the situation on lockdown order and COVID-19 in the state yesterday.

He explained that government’s decision was aimed at cushioning the effects of the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement Regulations 2020, adding that, a disbursement committee would soon announce the disbursement modalities directly to all villages in Akwa Ibom state.

Ekuwen stressed that distributing the items directly to the villages would enable them to trickle down to all and sundry.