…establishes 3 quarantine centres
Fear has gripped the people of Osun State following reports that neighbouring Ekiti has recorded a case of the viral monkey pox disease in Oke-Imesi Ekiti, a border town with Osun.
But the Osun State Government on Tuesday asked the people of the state, especially the residents of Imesi-Ile, a town sharing border with Oke-Imesi, not to panic saying, “We are on red alert.”
Addressing a joint press conference, the state Commissioners for Health, Information and Environment, Dr. Rafiu Kusamotu, Mr. Lani Baderinwa and Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola, respectively, advised residents of the state to avoid contact with animals or animal products and also keep proper hygiene.
Kusamotu disclosed that the government had prepared three isolation centres for suspected cases of monkey pox in Irepodun and Boripe Local Government Areas of the state.
The health commissioner said the state would train and sensitise doctors and other health officials on how to handle suspected cases, assuring that the state would do everything possible to prevent any case of monkey pox in the state the same way it did not witness any case of Ebola and lassa fever, when they broke out in the country.
He said, “monkey pox is a vital disease similar to small pox. We are urging our people to avoid contact with animals through cooking or animal products. They should wash their hands regularly. We (state health officials) are on red alert. Our surveillance are on red alert. We are ready to sensitise our people through advertisements on radio and television.
” We are proactive. We will sensitise our doctors and other health officials. Despite sporadic strikes by our doctors, we are happy that they are back to work and our hospitals are working. We have three isolation centres. Two in Irepodun Local Government and one in Boripre Local Government.
“If you suspect any symptoms of this viral disease, report to any of our health facilities or centres and if you suspect any case from your relations, keep distance from them and make report to the director of public health by calling 08033908772 or to the state epidemiologist on 08035638608.”
On the efforts of the government to address the demands of Osun doctors, who just called off their warning strikes in order not to affect the preparedness of the government to prevent an outbreak of monkey pox in the state, the information commissioner said, “The government is on top of the situation.”
Baderinwa added, “We have met with the medical doctors. We are going to continue talks with them until the issue is resolved.”
