…Donate Hand Sanitizers, Drugs, Hands Gloves to 57 LGAs, LCDAs in Lagos
Owing to the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the state, especially the dearth in the availability of face masks, and other PPE, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has urged the Lagos State Government, to encourage mass production of face masks to further protect the citizens from contracting the COVID-19 infection.
The chairman of the association, Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi made the call, at the Public Presentation of Medical items, including packs of alcohol based hand sanitizers, packs of vitamin c drug, and packs of hands gloves to all the 57 local council development areas in Lagos State.
According to him, all states of the federation, including Lagos state should emulate what the Cross River State is doing in the aspect of massive production of local face masks and ensuring that all residents of the state get the mask free of charge, although Lagos state is commencing the enforcement of its use, but the challenge is its affordability.
“I understand that Lagos state is also making some moves to ensure the same is enforced here, but how does the government expect those who have been locked inside their houses for over thirty days to afford to buy face masks which is getting expensive on daily basis? So, it would be good if the government can encourage more people to go into mass production of face masks in the state,” he advised.
Obideyi also noted that inadequate supply of PPE to pharmacists who are now receiving more patients due to shutting down of so many hospitals in the state is putting their lives at risk of infectious COVID-19, adding that health workers rely on PPE to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others, saying its shortage is leaving the community pharmacists dangerously ill-equipped to care for patients.
Presenting the items, the ACPN boss, noted that the association took the decision to donate the items to all the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state as part of its corporate social responsibility to the state, and also to contribute its quota to the containment of COVID-19, which is ravaging the whole world, saying the issue of Coronavirus should not be left for government alone to handle.
“Government cannot do it alone without the support of an association like ours, so we have mandated all our zones across the state to do the same, but we have only picked Apapa LGA and Ifako/Ijaiye LGA to flag off the donation, while we leave other local governments across the state to be handled by our zones in the state.
Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator, ACPN, Apapa zone, Pharm. (Mrs) Onyinye Okafor, and the Secretary, Lagos ACPN, Pharm. Jonah Okotie stated that the step taken by the association became necessary in view of the high rate of the spread of the disease in the country, adding that the gesture was part of the Association’s commitment to support the state government with its little contribution.
The Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Hon. Elijah Owolabi Adele who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Hon. Olalekan Bakare, attributed the success recorded so far in the management of COVID-19 in Lagos State to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s proactiveness, towards the health challenge, saying the outbreak would have posed grievous danger to the state if not for the priority given to the health sector.
He emphasised that even although there has not been serious challenge of the outbreak in Apapa LGA, as it only recorded 2 cases so far, it was necessary to prepare for any eventuality, adding that the local government is being proactive towards the fight against the pandemic to ensure that the community is protected from COVID-19.
While commending the gesture of the ACPN, the LGA boss said that the donated products would be used for the purpose they are meant for, adding the council is going to give priority to the usage of the materials to prevent the spread of the virus in the area,noting that the vitamin C will help boost their immune system, while the hand sanitizers and gloves will help prevent the spread of the virus.
In his own contribution, the Chairman, Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, said the council will continue to spread the advocacy, educating her people so they would know what to do to avoid the virus, stressing that the council was determined to eliminate the disease in the community.
While lauding the ACPN for the donation, the council boss said there is need for more partnership with the view to ensuring that everything works to the expectation of the people, such that the war been waged over this ravaging pandemic will be won at the end of the day.
Speaking further, Oke urged residents of the area to report any COVID-19 symptom to the concerned authorities, stressing that the local government authorities was determined to eliminate the disease in the community.
“So, I want to appeal to our people to continue to cooperate with us in this fight against Coronavirus. They should continue to stay at home. We don’t want anyone to die and the best thing to contain this virus is for us to stay at home and take every necessary precaution as stated by the experts”, the LGA boss said.
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