The measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19 is taking a toll on Nigerians. Exacerbating the impacts is the attitude of security agencies enforcing social distancing measures. Social Action supported Civil Rights Councils (CRCs) documents cases of violation of the rights of the people and even outright killing of innocent citizens by security personnel.
By Mercy Christopher, Project Officer, Social Action.
The outbreak of the novel COVID-19 has heralded unprecedented frictions in almost all aspects of life. The pandemic, however, seems more ominous in Africa despite the lower cases recorded in the continent thus far. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has projected a devastating health impact of the Corona Virus with confirmed cases projected to rise to 10 million and at least 300,000 deaths within the next 3-6 months(BBC, 2020).
Social Actions in partnership with the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organization Forum (BANGOF) and with the support of the Co-Chairs of Bayelsa State Task Force on COVID-19 set up the CSOs/Media Covid-19 Situation Room in the state. The Situation Room is the bid to support government’s and the citizens’ efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic through information dissemination, public enlightenment and advocacy. The Situation Room monitors government policies and citizens compliance in the face of the pandemic in Bayelsa State.
MEDIA BRIEFING:
Nigeria is currently battling the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. So far, Delta State has some confirmed cases, according to information released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Nationally, the federal and state governments initiated various policy frameworks and actions to stem the spread of the virus.
Recall Dr Aniekeme Uwah Now!
PRESS RELEASE
April 25, 2020
The Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organizations Forum decries the reported sacked of Dr Aniekeme Uwah, the State Epidemiologist and Lead of the State’s Incidence Management Committee for COVID19 by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong.
The forum is shocked that the state could muster the courage to sack the foremost epidemiologist at this critical time, especially with palpable fears among the citizenry that the virus might have spread more than the government would want the world to believe.
Dr Uwah is reported to have been sacked because he sent more blood samples for testing that the than his immediate boss the, Health Commissioner would have wanted him to. If this report is accurate, then the decision to sack the lead epidemiologist would be a most terrible decision and a disservice to the state.
Dr Aniekeme Uwah is a reputed medical professional with a wealth of experience in ublic Health and expertise in curbing infectious diseases and highly sought after in Africa. He was recently honoured by the African Union for his meritorious service fighting Ebola outbreak in Liberia between 2014 and 2015 and is currently the Secretary, Commonwealth Medical Association’s COVID-19 Response Committee. He is an asset to Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organizations Forum hereby calls on the state governor to wade into the matter and reinstate Dr Aniekeme Uwah. His sack at this time would worsen the already precarious situation caused by this rampaging pandemic.
Furthermore, if the reason reported for the sack is indeed true, then it raises a lot of questions. Why is the state government intent on reducing the number of people tested? Didn’t the state government put out a release a few days back declaring they were embarking on aggressive testing? What is the number of people tested so far? Why is the state government shrouding the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state in secrecy? What are they hiding?
While we leave the state government to provide answers to these questions, we passionately plead with the state governor, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to reinstate Dr, Aniekeme Uwah for the good of Akwa Ibom state Citizens.
Signed:
Harry Udoh, Chair
Dr Nsekpong Udoh, Secretary
As the sharing of palliative in the states in the South-South regions continues, Akwa Ibom State recently distributed its first set of palliatives. The state government had on 14th April declared a lockdown to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the state. The state government also made attempts to provide food items to poor residents to enable them to cope during the lockdown.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the Rivers CSO/Media COVID-19 Situation Room visited the Rivers State COVID-19 Isolation Centre situated at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. The isolation centre is a 250 bed-space facility. The team also visited major community markets to observe citizen’s compliance with government directives on the strategies put in place by the State Governor to curb the spread of the virus.
On arrival at the Isolation Centre, the team was welcomed by Mrs Ighodalo, who set up the facilities. Mrs Ighodalo informed the group that the Isolation Centre was about 80% ready. She said they were expecting ten ventilators that will be supplied to the Isolation Center in a few days. She was very receptive after a formal introduction by members of the Situation Room team who stated the reason for their visit. She was willing to have a conversation with the Situation Room.
Mrs Ighodalo informed that Access Bank Plc Nigeria solely funded the setting up the Isolation Center. She further stated that the Isolation Centre would be ready in two days as work was seriously in progress.
Press Release:
We have been following developments concerning the governments’responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. We commend several efforts so far made, including financial and other contributions by public-spirited individuals, corporate bodies, and organizations towards containing the spread of the pandemic and cushioning the harsh impacts of the various responses.
As the economic impact of COVID-19 continues to deepen, just like other countries around the globe, Nigeria is faced with unexpected challenges. With the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling for states to enforce social distancing measures, the implementation and impacts of the restrictions in Nigeria have exposed the problem of hunger that people face as the restrictions continue.
Social Action is coordinating the establishment of Civil Society Situation Rooms in the Niger Delta to monitor government interventions, public finance accountability, citizens responses, human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the first of the state-based situation rooms was inaugurated in Rivers State.