The All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State chapter has described as false claims made by the Delta state government that it has established adequate isolation centres to tackle the rampaging coronavirus.
In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Sylvester Imonina, the APC alleged that 80 percent of the isolation centres announced by the state government lack the facilities and manpower to tackle the disease, in case of an outbreak.
However, the APC said only the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, has a semblance of an isolation Centre.
Also, the party tasked the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to cut down on “his overover-bloated appointments of aides, rather than reducing the number of capital projects that are not enough for Deltans”.
It further added that this will make more funds available to “tackle the virus headlong whenever and wherever it surfaces in Delta State”.
The statement alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party-led government has not been sincere to Deltans.
“Contrary to the claim of Delta state government that isolation centres had been set up in different parts of Delta state to tackle any possible outbreak of Coronavirus epidemic in the state, the state chapter of the APC can authoritatively report that the PDP- led government has done nothing to prove any sign of seriousness to tackle the dreaded menace.
“Information available to us reveals that apart from the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, which has some semblance of an isolation centre for Coronavirus likely patients, all other hospitals do not have Isolation centres and/or facilities to tackle Coronavirus related ailments.
“Must governance be built around lies in Delta State? We dare to challenge the State Government to show to the public the facilities provided in the centres mentioned, apart from Asaba.”
However, reacting to the claims, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has not adopted “half measures” in the establishment of isolation centres to contain the spread of COVID-19, in the case of an outbreak.
He said the four centres across the state, including the Central Hospital, Warri, are well-equipped and of the same standards, noting that the APC must not take swipes on the ruling PDP on every issue.
“They cannot be talking because they are just APC. Anything the government has done, they want to be seen to be saying something. Which standard did they use to measure ours? Ventilators are critical items in treating coronavirus.
“Here in Delta, we have more than 19 already, but there is no case. The governor, being a medical doctor, has being so proactive. Some states with cases don’t have.
“In Central Hospital, Asaba, we have 24-bed isolation Centre, well-equipped with ventilators and monitors. How can one say a teaching hospital, like that in Oghara, does not have well-equipped facilities?
“I hope they are not mistaking holding centres for isolation centers. We have 11 holding centres across the state, where those showing symptoms will be held, and further moved to isolation centres if results turning out positive.
“It is not everything that you must pick on government. You don’t take swipes on every issue. It will not deter Governor Okowa from doing what is right. Our prayer is that we do not have a case. Medical personnel, even those who are retired were called back and are undergoing training.
“I am telling you convincingly that what we have in Asaba is the same they (Central Hospital, Warri and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara) have. Government is not doing half measures,” Ifeajika said.
