Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his COVID-19 Tales : A passionate Appeal

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus across Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa took supposedly proactive steps to combat the deadly virus.

As we approach four weeks of lockdown, I want to speak as a Deltan, an electorate, opinion leader, father, husband and son on the chronicles of acts of our dear Governor vis-a-vis his approach even as a medical doctor.

I enjoin you to take a cursory chronological look at Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on COVID-19;

MARCH 20, 2020

In his address to Deltans, His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stated that "Make no mistake, my administration has taken every necessary precaution to guarantee your health and safety.

We have already set up holding facilities across the state in line with NCDC guidelines- to ensure that any suspected cases of the #CORONAVIRUS are quarantined, properly diagnosed and treated quickly and efficiently. 

MARCH 25

In his address Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa gave order for the closure of all institutions of learning: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary for a period of 30 days.

This is aside other orders which include; All workers on grade levels 1 -12 (except those on essential duties (health workers, fire services and water Corporation/agencies) are to stay at home effective Thursday, 26th March, 2020 whereas biometric operations at all levels of government was put on suspension till further notice, etc.

MARCH 26

A day later Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ordered the closure of Asaba Airport From Friday evening at 6pm, all land borders into and out of Delta State are to be shut, and from Sunday March 29, 2020, all citizens and residents of Delta State are to stay at home.

MARCH 31, 2020

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ordered amongst the following among other things:

1. Starting tomorrow, the movement of people, goods and services into, within, and out of all parts of Delta State is hereby suspended.

2. All residents of the State not on essential duty or providing essential services are to stay home till further notice.

3. All gatherings for conferences, meetings, religious worship, festivals, private events, public visits, burials, weddings, traditional marriages and other social events are prohibited.

4. Public places, such as event centres, bars, night clubs/lounges, cinemas, markets, supermarkets, malls, shops, restaurants/canteens are to temporarily cease all operations.

5. All official and unofficial sporting activities, even street football, is hereby prohibited at this time.

6. Food sellers are only permitted to conduct their businesses within the precinct of their homes and will be monitored to ensure that they adhere to the strict social distancing.

APRIL 8

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stated that "the index case of the #COVID19 virus in Delta State is being treated at one of our four emergency management centers. Additionally, we have already started the contact tracing process".

APRIL 14

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa went further to state that;

"With three confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Delta State, we are working round-the-clock to curb the spread of the virus. This is why, I announced a two-week extension of the stay-at-home order, as well as a 7pm to 7am curfew".

"In-line with the recommendations of global health experts, at the end of this week, we will begin the process of distributing free face masks across Delta State". 

Additionally, I informed our citizens and residents that we are also working to fast-track the distribution of food items to low-income families and communities to cushion the effect of the lockdown.

From the Broadcast of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on April 14, His Excellency made a commitment to distribute free face masks at the end of the week. We are almost two weeks after that declaration and no face masks have been distributed. 

The same Governor who told us in March that "no fund will be spared " in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic has not been able to provide face mask neither has the he been able to conclude contact-tracing for the primary contacts of the index case in Delta since early March.

While Edo State has completed the building of two testing centres Delta is yet to build one.

In 48 hours the current lockdown and curfew will elapse. As a Deltan, I am anxious as to what is the next step especially as the NCDC Director clearly stated this week that the COVID-19 in Nigeria has not reached its peak level.

Your Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State deserve more than four holding/Isolation centres. We deserve to have our samples tested here in Delta. Taking our samples to Edo State with lesser fund is a slap to all Deltans, a betrayal of trust, and negates your earlier stance of sparing no fund.

The communities in the Riverine areas of Delta State are more in danger of being wiped out by this pandemic if we continue like this.

Your Excellency, I am very much concerned about my kids, my wife, my siblings, and my community.

We are in dire need of a testing Center in Delta State.

Please, accept the kind assurances of my highest esteem.

Comr. Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin

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