By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebisi Ayoola on Thursday hinted that the state government is spending about N70 million monthly to take care of COVID-19 patients at the Isolation centres in the state.
Dr Ayoola dropped this hint in Ibadan at the ongoing 2021 Pharmacy week of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oyo State chapter themed :” Pharmacists as Frontline Care Providers in Public Health Epidemics and Pandemic”, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
The Permanent Secretary who lauded the contribution of pharmacists to humanity, said there is the need for more collaboration between the Oyo state government and the pharmaceutical professionals.
”We are currently spending over N70 million in treating cases of patients admitted to different isolation centres in Olodo, Agbami, Jericho as well as Awe isolation centre. It entails provision of free drugs for all the patients, maintenance of facilities, payment as hazard allowance to different health workers that are in Olodo as well as all other workers”, he said
Dr Ayoola added, ” we have six centres, but at present, we have only one IDC at Olodo. There are 20 patients there. Initially, all those centres were full but they are being discharged.”
“We pro rata. It may likely be lower since patients are getting fewer We are dealing with the issue of fake drugs that are common in our society. The door is open to collaborate with Oyo State. Prices of drugs have been brought down”.
Dr Ayoola while speaking on the claim that some doctors at isolation centres are contracting COVID-19, said “It is not impossible for doctors to contract COVID-19. It is the part of hazard of duty”.
” All doctors treat patients. So, there is possibility of being infected. However, some of those people that were infected are treated free by the state government”.
Oyo State PSN Chairman, Pharm. Oguntoye Adegboyega while speaking lamented the negative impacts of COVID-19 throughout the world
” Nothing can soothe the loss the world has incurred and still incurs from the COVID-19 pandemic and other global public health issues . But, the world can make adjustments to mitigate the current events”.
The keynote speaker, Mrs. Folasade Lawal in her remarks stated that there are so many unreported cases of COVID-19 in the country, adding that fear of panic, denial and indifference were the first responses to COVID-19. She revealed that thorough the period, pharmacists did not close for one day.
She stressed that promotion of healthy living is very essential.
