COVID-19: Plateau Health Professionals Urged Plateau Govt to Adopt New Testing Strategy & Protect the Vulnerable

As the Coronavirus continue to ravage public health globally with hundreds of thousand deaths recorded, Plateau Health Inter-professional Committee on COVID-19, a group of health experts has called on the Plateau State government to expand testing for COVID-19, adopt new testing strategy and give greater attention to the vulnerable in the State.

Chairman of the Group, Dr. Gomerep Simji said the group made up of health professionals was formed with focus on COVID-19 Pandemic at the global level and its effect at the National and State levels.

He said they came together as health professionals to collectively fight the Coronavirus in the State.

Dr. Gomerep made the disclosures when he led the group to a meeting with Plateau Taskforce on COVID-19.

He said the committee was there to interact with the State COVID-19 Taskforce to complement their mandate in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

He highlighted some activities of the group such as visit to Heads of Health Institutions, Heads of Media Stations and still carrying out awareness campaign.

He said from the survey taken by the group, it shows that people in the State are fully aware of the dreaded disease as well as the preventive measures.

He plead for isolation accommodation for health workers who will be attending to COVID-19 patients should there be any case.

He called on the State Taskforce to engage the group in the fight against COVID-19.

He spoke on the need to train health workers on COVID-19 and other notifiable diseases as well equip health facilities across the State. He urged the government to address the shortage of manpower in the health sector and extension of health workers who will be retiring by 3 Months owing to the global public health challenge posed by COVID-19

He appealed that government should prioritize the welfare of health workers by motivating them through hazard allowance and life insurance.

He urged government to ensure health professionals are actively engaged in health matters.

He said government should adopt new testing strategy, and said as the lockdown expires, government ensure the vulnerable are strengthened.

Dr. Gomerep commended the government for border closure, lockdown and installation of CCTV Cameras but said health measures and other strategies should be deployed.

The Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Atu appreciated the group for the visit which he said was knowledge sharing and their recommendations to the government which he said will be carefully looked into.

He lauded the roles they are playing in the fight against COVID-19.

The group donated hand sanitizers and awareness campaign materials to the government.

Also part of the delegation were renowned health professionals such as Dr. Bulus Jonathan, Dr. Dablet Ezra, Dr. Daniel Meshak, Dr. Louis Nwokolo, Dr. Miner Asabe, Pharm. Pyentim Ponfa, Pharm. Kim Bot, Nrs Lenka Mercy, Nrs Ndak Zuhumnan, Dr. Solomon Chollom, Matthew Adewale, Bakkuk Haruna and Dr. Mark Okolo.

Also present at the meeting were top Government Functionaries and Heads of Security agencies in the State.