Gombe conducts over 52,000 COVID-19 tests

On Jul 7, 2021

The Gombe State Epidemiologist, Dr. Nuhu Bile, says no fewer than 52,000 residents in Gombe have been tested for COVID-19.

The state epidemiologist disclosed this on Tuesday in Gombe, during the launch of an initiative tagged “Back to School Campaign/COVID-19 Response.

The initiative backed by the State, Federal Government and UNICEF was aimed at encouraging students in the state to come back to school.

He said, “We have tested over 52,000 people. That translates to two per cent of Gombe State population which is a record, that the directive was for every state to ensure the testing of at least one per cent of its population

“The state has provided ‘School Safe Spaces’ in 18 out of the 20 boarding schools in the state, thanks to the Governor and the Deputy Governor.”

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau, said the programme was part of the strategies of the state to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools.

He said, “We are aware that after the COVID-19 lockdown, about five million children stopped attending schools as a result of closure owing to various reasons such as fear by some parents of their children’s safety, lack of resources to return to school, teenage marriage and pregnancy, and peer group influence.”

He reiterated that the campaign was to advocacy to all education stakeholders, to enlighten and sensitize parents and caregivers that the government has provided facilities and structures to ensure the safety of every child in schools across the state, noting that Personal Protective Equipment such as hand sanitisers, face masks, and soap among others have been distributed to all schools.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Tushar Rane, commended the Government of Gombe State for its prompt response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

Represented by Hajiya Maryama Dikwa, the UNICEF chief also lauded the efforts of stakeholders in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

He disclosed that the collaboration between the State and Federal Governments and UNICEF led to the development of a work plan on safe school operations and the back to school campaign, noting that it was aimed at minimising the negative impacts of schools closure.

Phoebe/Punch