Since the first case of Corona virus also referred to as COVID-19 was identified in Nigeria, Anambra state has not relented in preventing the pandemic from gaining entrance into the state. OKECHUKWU ONUEGBU chronicles the preparedness.
In Anambra state, the fear of Corona virus is the beginning of wisdom. ‘The light of the Nation’ is doing everything possible to prevent the disease from entering the state. As a result, the state government on March 19 placed ban on public gatherings effective from March 23, 2020 till further notice.The state also urged tertiary institutions operating in the state to proceed on vacation with public/private primary and secondary schools in the state equally shut down.
State gov’t took steps
In a release signed by Professor Solomon Chukwulobelu, secretary to the state government, traders and buyers were also charged to wash hands frequently with soap and water for, at least, 20 seconds and allow it to air dry.The release among other things urged the use of hand sanitisers if the hands are not visibly dirty. Hand shaking, hugging and all other forms of contacts in the form of salutation are strongly discouraged. A distance of six feet should be maintained between customers and traders. Leadership of the markets are advised to buy infra-red thermometre to test any of their members or customers falling sick in the market. In line with the directive, the state commissioner for diaspora affairs, indigenous artworks and tourism, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, further announced ban on public festivals. Also, comedy and music concerts, cultural festivals and related events have been banned in until further notice. She implored event organisers, event planners and media organisations to stop announcing such events. Governor Willie Obiano, at the 10th convocation ceremony of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, held on March 21 called on researchers in the academia and research institutes across the world to intensify efforts in the search for Covid-19 vaccine.“I know that research institutes and biological laboratories are all busy searching for solutions across the world but there is a need for greater effort to lead the world out of this dark tunnel. We must all adhere strictly to the principles of social distancing as recommended by WHO,” he stated. The state government, however, failed to disclose where and how someone can locate an Isolation centre, hospitals and other facilities dedicated for war against Corona virus.
CSOs/others comply
Immediately, the president of Anambra Market Women Association (AMWA), Mrs Nkiru Duru, announced the postponement of official inauguration of the association which was slated to take place next month.Duru, who commended the state government for the measure, expressed fears that commercial activities would be affected which, according to her, could ultimately lead to food scarcity.She said, “Women should begin to stock their homes with food items before it is too late. Most people who sell food stuffs due to the corona virus may not do business because people now suspect one another.”She also urged Anambra women to embark on family prayers as well as market line prayers in order to avert more spread of the virus.On his part, the executive director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, called on the police authorities to check the order of taking people into police custody unnecessarily.According to Nwanguma, “That’s one measure to control the further spread of the Corona virus. Mass raids and indiscriminate arrests should be checked. The detained should be granted bail, prisons also need to be decongested.”Also, the president, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Chikwelu Adigwe, while stressing that his team would adhere strictly to the government directive, enjoined the 21 local government chairmen to work in tandem with the local branch chairmen of NULGE and executives in their council areas by providing the necessary health items needed to keep workers and general public sanitised.“Items like sanitisers, wash hand basins, soaps and others should be kept at work place. They should ensure strict compliance by making use of them before having access to their workplace as a means of complementing governor’s effort at the grassroot against this ravaging scourge of corona virus.“I am also urging all the departmental heads to make their own arrangements at various departments; if needs be, a special team should be constituted to spearhead the implementation of this health measures in each local government areas.”On Monday March 23, the Anambra State Police Command following the directive of its commissioner, CP John B.Abang, kicked- started checkmating their staff temperature and men at the state command headquarters at Amawbia.The exercise led by the command’s medical officer, CSP, Emelike also ensured that hand sanitisers are also placed strategically for use by the officers, while heads of departments and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) were enjoined to replicate same at their respective offices.Blueprint also observed that most primary and secondary schools in the state complied with the order as pupils and students were spotted returning home as at 8.15am.
Religious bodies
The Archbishop Province of the Niger, Anglican Communion and Bishop Awka Anglican Diocese, Most Reverend Chibuzor Alexander Ibezim, immediately banned the use of common cups for Holy Communion in their churches. Archbishop Ibezim, who said his Diocese was adhering to the order, averred that they would henceforth reduce their public activities, adding that when unavoidable to hold a public function like ordination service, the church would minimise the activities associated thereto, and deploy all public health known procedures to safeguard peoples health.According to him, church members and guests would also wash their hands with soap and water as well as use hand sanitisers, suspend hand shaking, hugging and all other forms of contact salutation in the church for now.He, however called on the state government to ensure that a quarantine centre is ready and conducive for any case of emergency situation of coronavirus, while advising the FG to announce a total ban on foreign trips to all the countries of the world and not only to hard hit countries until the scourge is contained. The prelate urged all Christians to be fervent in prayer as there nothing God cannot do. An unsigned release from the Catholic church listed some of the measures they would be taking to include nodding of heads instead of handshake during kiss of peace, presenting of Holy Communion on hands no longer on the tongue and offertory collections through church prefects instead of allowing congregants to file and dance in closeness. Others are temporary suspension of big gatherings, like overnight crusades, rallies and such events that attract big crowds and keep them close to each other for a long time, parishes to increase the number of Holy Masses so as to reduce the size of the congregation attending them, ban on long sermons and long announcements and avoidance of long receptions after weddings. The church also banned what it termed long dancing at ceremonies like funerals, and crowded places, while urging the priests who anoint the sick and at Baptism to always put on hand gloves.
Business as usual as events still hold
Blueprint gathered that vehicle drives are among defaulters or possible ignorant of precaution measures on corona virus. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), had due to the pandemic banned commercial drivers from carrying more than a person at the front and not more than three in a row of the vehicles. But travelling through Awka to Onitsha last Monday, it was observed that transporters maintained their usual four persons on the back seat and two persons in front seat while tricycle operators were seen driving three passengers at back and a person front as usual.
Corona virus is mere propaganda -Taxi driver
Speaking to Blueprint, a driver, Mr Ufoma Okolo, said they have not been duly informed about the directives, even as he told Blueprint that the virus has not been reported in the country.
“Forget the media hype. I am sure the disease is not yet in Nigeria. I am tired of different news I am hearing. This was how they deceived some people to drink salt and die during the period of Ebola. There is nothing like Corona in Nigeria. When it comes, God will stop it as He stopped Ebola in our country,” a passenger who identified himself as Odinukpo chipped in.Similarly, burial, weddings and parties had been on since the announcements of the ban was released with some state government officials and politicians usually spotted at those events.
