By Shola Yemi (Gombe State)
Gombe State has recorded 60 COVID-19 deaths in one year, the State’s Commissioner of health, Dr Habu Dahiru disclosed, as he laments lack of acceptance of vaccine by people.
Gatekeepers News reports that Dahiru made the disclosure u, while briefing Journalists on the COVID-19 update in the State as part of the activities of the Ministry to round up the year 2021.
He said the Government has not relented in its efforts at curbing the spread of the pandemic as the State Ministry of Health has continued to coordinate all response activities .
The Commissioner further explained that, since the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Gombe State, “We have been able to test 90,885 people, 2,776 cases of these tested positive. 2,690 have been managed and discharged, with 60 deaths from confirmed cases”.
Dahiru also lamented that the state is still lagging far behind with only about 115,000 people having had their first vaccine doses while about 53,000 have completed the required two doses of either Moderna or Astrazaneca vaccines made available to the State by the Federal Government.
According to him, out of the desired target of reaching 50% of the state’s population with the vaccines, only 7.12% has been attained so far as at 23rd December, 2021, a development he said was not encouraging at all if the pandemic must be fought.
“I am calling on every person not yet vaccinated to avail themselves to the 166 Covid-19 vaccination teams found in our facilities across the 11 LGAs to get vaccinated”, he appealed.
He however assured that, “We have sufficient stock for the public. For those who have completed their scheduled doses of vaccination, booster doses will soon be made available, and all will be eligible after 6 months of the completion of the schedule”.
Dahiru explained further that the changes in the virus have resulted into different variants even as the world has been dealing with Delta and recently Omicron variants.
He said that, “These variants have shown more virulence in some cases and are more infectious, across this country, there has been a significant rise in case trend since 6th December with 124.1% increase compared to last week” .
According to him, “Up to 18 states have shown increasing trend including Gombe. Here in Gombe State, we have seen increased number of cases with complains of fever and severe body pains”.
The Commissioner stressed that, “The IMS is committed to increased testing for early case detection and management. The good news is that all variants have been shown not to be resistant against the vaccines being used”.
He then called on the general public to strongly adhere to the non pharmaceutical preventive measures especially during this period of festivities where there is a lot of interactions between families and loved ones.
Dahiru outlined some of the preventive measures to include; regular washing of hands with soap under running water or use hand sanitizer, covering of mouth and nose properly with a tissue paper when sneezing or coughing, or cough into your elbow if tissue paper is not available.
He also warned people to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing, avoid self-medication and report to the nearest health facility if one experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
The Commissioner emphasized that, “As much as possible, maintain social distance, avoid crowded places if you have symptoms as religion entails”.
