Following the report of new COVID 19 cases recorded in Bauchi state, Civil society organizations (CSOs) situation room on the pandemic has called on the state government to enforce the closure of borders and interstate traveling ban to contain the spread of the virus.
The CSOs COVID 19 situation room in a press release issued by its spokesperson Sodangi Chindo who made the call noted that as of 4th June 2020, the State Case Fatality Rate was reading at 3.1%, with so far 2,071 samples which have been investigated with only 256 people who were found to have contracted with the COVID-19.
He said there is need for the state government to widen the scope of the testing index in the state.
“As a center for testing has been opened in the state, we call on the government to procure more testing kits, so as to increase the amount of testing in the state and not to be caught unaware, as it has been reported that the virus is at community Transmission.
“As you are already aware, the CSO’s situation room existence and her efforts in raising awareness on the issues on the Covid-19 in Bauchi state is persistent.
“We also want to use this medium to appreciate the government for her endless efforts in fighting the Pandemic, we also wish to congratulate the government for getting approval of the new testing lab for Covid-19 in Bauchi state, by the NCDC and waiting on the next one to be soon opened at the teaching hospital”, he said.
The civil society organizations also reminded the government of its recent pledge of providing and distributing 2 million face masks and asked it to redeem it with a view to helping people to stay safe.
“In respect to the increased cases been recorded in the state, we encourage that the Government put more stringent measures on the Border lockdown, as interstate travel ban has not been lifted.
“We also call on the State government to involve CSOs in the distribution of palliatives around the state, as we only heard as privileged information that 2500 bags of rice and 1800 vegetable oil was shared to the LGAs that were on total lock down for two weeks, hence we call on the Government for more involvement of CSOs in the state, to help in monitoring the distribution of this palliatives, which has been a common practice in most northern states in the country”, the statement reads.
