Gbadamosi Oladimeji
The Federal Government has promised to refund the expenses made by Ogun State Government during the outbreak of coronavirus in the state.
This was made known by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 delegation during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta recently in Ogun State.
The Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib who led the delegation, described the state government’s efforts as exemplary, and called on other states to emulate the Ogun State government.
He maintained that, the deployment of technology to fight the spread of Covid-19 showed preaching of the PTF.
According to the PTF, the history of COVID-19 in Nigeria is not complete without the significant role of Ogun State, and Federal Government will ensure that funds that are supposed to be allocated to the state are made available in order to further strengthen the structure.
Shuaib noted, “The Presidential Taskforce is visiting Ogun state, not because there is a crisis in the management of COVID-19; not because we see any evidence of gaps in the outbreak response; but instead, to commend the effort of Ogun State for the way they have managed the outbreak response”.
“The PTF is happy with the response of Ogun State to the outbreak and the FG will keep supporting Ogun state with funds because Ogun state has taken the burden of the outbreak, starting from February.” He stressed.
“We noticed some of the steps that Ogun state took and the cost of those steps. Also, we have seen a very good coordination of your response to COVID-19. We are glad that Ogun state has created different context on the management of the outbreak,” he said.
The Director assured the state that “within the shortest possible time, funds that are supposed to come to Ogun State from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund are made available to help you achieve your dreams of achieving primary health care to your people.”
In his response, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun reiterated that his administration would focus on healthcare system.
Abiodun noted that, his administration was able to come up with well-structured isolation centers with about 400 bed spaces spread across the state.
He added that his administration was also planning to make some of its recently renovated Primary Healthcare centers first responders, to manage cases related to the pandemic.
Abiodun, who also noted that all what the state had been able to achieve in terms of having on ground, a well-structured Isolation and treatment centers, was done through self-help.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who led the PTF delegation, also commended efforts of the state government.
