The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who made this
known in Abeokuta, said that the Oxygen Therapy Center which sits within the
Infectious Disease Hospital, Iberekodo, Abeokuta consists of 20 beds of high dependency
capacity.
Dr. Coker affirmed that the state and nation at large is in
the deep of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, describing the
infectivity rate of the new strain as being highly infectious.
According to her, “the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching
Hospital ( OOUTH) Isolation center is at 90 per cent capacity right now which
means that people have to take cognizance of being responsible for their own
health.”
“Our positivity rate prior to December was roving around 0.7
– 0.8 percent but since December, particularly January, our positivity rate has
gone up by about 8 per cent which means that this second wave is real. Hence,
we all have to pay attention and do all the necessary things needed to protect
ourselves,” Coker said.
“We are more concerned as a state but we are prepared. We
have OOUTH, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Ikenne Isolation Centers all
available.
“Our Oxygen Therapy Center in Iberekodo, Abeokuta will help
to ensure that we do not run out of oxygen like some states are experiencing at
the moment. We are responding appropriately to contain and curtail this second
wave,” she said.
The Commissioner, however, pointed out that Ogun has tested
over 50,000 residents which are 1 per cent of its population as stipulated by
the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Ogun is one of the leading states in the number of tests
carried out. We’ve actually hit one person of our population which is the
stipulated number prescribed by NCDC for all states.
” We have tested over 50,000 residents of Ogun State given
that our population is about 5.8m. We are now heading to 2 per cent. Out of the
over 50,000 tested, we have about 2500 positive,” she stated.
Coker, therefore, said that of the non-pharmaceutical
guidelines are adhered to, there will be no overwhelming situation in
containing the pandemic.
“We are responding appropriately to contain and curtail this
second wave but the success of our response has to be a collaborative one
between the government and the individuals,” the Commissioner said.