With over 300 confirmed cases and many more anticipated, residents of Makurdi, Benue State capital, seem to have thrown caution to the wind regarding the containment of the Coronavirus as they observe very little precautionary measures.
A worrisome trend the Chief Medical Director of State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, Terlumun Swende, attributed to people being in denial of the disease which has dire consequences.
Its been business as usual in most parts of the nation’s food basket’s administrative capital even with the growing threat posed by the looming Coronavirus pandemic.
Residents’ mode of behaviour does not in any way reflect the current reality as they totally disregard COVID-19 protocols.
The viral disease was first recorded in the state late March with the state maintaining alone one for about four weeks before a second.
Subsequently, cases began to surge with top government functionaries, assembly officials, and university executives not spared.
The issue of testing has equally been a major challenge owing to the absence of a testing facility within the entire State.
Samples are collected and taken to the Federal Capital Territory which could take days or weeks to return which is arguably no longer the patient’s current status.
While the state is grappling with these numerous unresolved issues the state’s COVID-19 committee’s Vice Chairman, Godwin Achinge, succumbed to the deadly virus.
Most recently, the Secretary of the Committee, who was the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Sunday Ongbabo, resigned.
As the state shops for a replacement for this very sensitive position, capability must be its watchword as many lives are at stake.
