Policy Alert, a non-governmental organization, has called on the Akwa Ibom State government to roll out more stringent measures towards protecting residents of the state from the rampaging Coronavirus pandemic.
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Officer of Policy Alert, Utibe Archibong, described as “disappointing” the state government’s response so far to the pandemic.
“While we commend the state government for putting medical facilities in place, its overall preventative response has been sub-par. The state government’s repeated reassurances on measures to protect lives of citizens fall rather flat in the face of minimalist measures so far taken by the government in response to the pandemic”, Archibong said.
“We expected that long before
now, there would be more stringent measures in place such as prohibition of
public gatherings, closure of all public and private schools, and stay at home
order for civil and public servants barring those on essential services.
Rather, all we hear is that there is no confirmed case in Akwa Ibom yet. The
state cannot afford to sit on its hands while a potential disaster is unfolding
before our very eyes” she added.
Archibong advised the Akwa Ibom state government to enforce stricter measures
to protect the state from the pandemic.
It added that social safety
interventions should be simultaneously rolled out for the poorest and most vulnerable
groups in the state who will be hardest hit, whether by a lock down or by
infections.
Segun Fatuase
seguntuase@gmail.com
08023092925
(with agency reports)