BY NOSA AKENZUA
Delta State says it is in the process of developing a vulnerability index database that would help capture all the Vulnerable Persons (VP) in the state as well as serve as a guide in reaching out to the less privileged.
Secretary to the state Government ( SSG) Barr Chiedu Ebie who spoke to Journalists in Asaba on Wednesday, disclosed that the state was working with the Nigeria Communication Commission ( NCC) to gather data on the Vulnerable Persons across the 25 Local Government Areas which he said would help government to make informed decisions in the distribution of palliatives to the less privileged.
Ebie said that the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was committed to curtailing the spread of Coronavirus ravaging the world hence it established a mini testing facility at the Asaba Specialist Hospital which he added, could handle about 40 tests per day.
He said that this had increased the testing capacity of the state as samples from Covid-19 pandemic suspects were no longer sent to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo state, adding that the state government had also set up Isolation Centres and treatment across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state in other to manage cases of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, hoteliers in the state have appealed to the government for a relaxation of the curfew imposed to check the spread of coronavirus.
It would be recalled that Governor Okowa among others, had ordered the restriction of movement in the state from 7pm to 6am every day.
Speaking on the matter, the Managing Director of Villa Toscana Hotel, Mr Levi Ezelibe said that they have complied with the government’s directives, adding that they have also enforced the use of face masks for both staff and customers and provided hand washing facilities at several spots within their hotels premises.
According to him, the business had suffered from patronage since the lockdown was imposed adding that curfew has not helped business, urging residents of the state to observe precautionary measures saying that it is better to stay hungry than to be faced with a life threatening ailments”.
