The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private sector initiative meant to fight the pandemic, on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, donated medical equipment and bedding to Ondo State Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH).
In his welcome address, the Head of the state COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. Busari Ismail disclosed that 10 patients were at the centre undergoing treatment, while three suspected cases were at the isolation centre. He added that although the three suspected cases had tested negative, they would still need to undergo further testing before they could be discharged.
A representative of CACOVID in the state, Mr. Akinbode Akinola, in his statement, revealed that the group donated 100 beds, 100 mattresses, and other bedding accessories to the IDH some of which are already in use in the Wards.
During the handover, journalists were conducted round the facility where some of the beds and accessories were installed. Each ward contained bed monitors, sphygmomanometers, and Pulse Oximeters.
According to Akinola, the Coalition donated 25 sphygmomanometers, 25 oximeters used to measure the pulse of the patients, five sets of bed monitors. He further explained that “the donations became necessary considering the rate at which the virulent Coronavirus is spreading and claiming people’s lives. The government cannot handle the issue alone, hence, the support by the Coalition.”
According to him, the items donated were meant to help in the treatment of the confirmed and suspected patients so that people won’t die due to the lack of or insufficient equipment at the IDH.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro appreciated the Coalition, calling on more corporate organizations and philanthropists to join the government in fighting COVID-19.
The state governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, officially received the donations and appreciated the coalition for the gesture.
He said: “This gesture will linger on in our heart in Ondo State for coming to help us at this critical time.”
Akeredolu affirmed that the state government would not relent in its efforts to seek assistance from corporate organizations and private individuals to fight the dreadful virus. The governor, therefore, charged the people of the state to adhere strictly to all the precautionary measures being handed down by the government to check the spread of COVID-19, emphasizing the need to maintain social distancing, stay-at-home, maintain good hand hygiene and use face masks to check the spread of the virus.
CACOVID is a coalition of private organizations, cutting across the various industries. Some of its members include the Dangote conglomerate, Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, MTN, among others.