Ekiti Meets Monarchs, Hausa Residents Amid COVID-19, Cholera Surge

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government yesterday held a meeting withtraditional rulers and residents of Hausa descent amid the surging cases of COVID-19 and cholera outbreaks in some parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani addressed the meeting in Otun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area (LGA), urging the participants to comply with COVID-19 protocols and stem suspected cholera outbreak in the state.

While the state had recorded 342 cases of COVID-19 in two months, which stoked fear of transmission among vulnerable residents, there had been reported cases of cholera outbreak in Moba and Ilejemeje LGAs.

On this ground, the state government had kicked sensitisation of residents and communities across the state in order to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

At the meeting yesterday, the health commissioner Filani that the government recognises the relevance and important position the monarchs are occupying in their various communities across the state.
Filani, who was represented at the meetings by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services Mr. Akinjide Akinleye, said the meeting became necessary because Ekiti had been recording high number of positive cases of Covid-19 on a daily basis since July.

He added that cholera was another public health concern issue with three suspected cases in the state.
Filani charged Hausa residents in Moba LGAs where there was report of suspected case of cholera outbreak to continue to observe personal and environmental hygiene

He appealed to the royal fathers and the Hausa community as continue to adhere to necessary Covid-19 safety protocols such as wearing of face mask, maintaining social distancing, use of sanitisers as well as regular washing of hands are observed in their communities.

The commissioner called on the leaders “to mobilise their subjects and take the advantage of government’s gesture to get vaccinated, stressing that getting immunised remains the most effective way to curtail the virus.

“The Moderna vaccines currently in use in the state are eligible residents that haven’t received any jab of the Covid-19. Anyone who has the first dose of Astra-Zeneca vaccines should wait for the second dose that would arrive soon”.
Speaking for the monarchs, the Oore of Otun, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, commended the efforts of the state government at curtailing the pandemic.

Adeagbo assured that the monarchs would mobilise for the vaccines and ensure compliance with necessary safety measures in all their domains.
Also in his response, the leader of the Hausa community in Moba LGAs, Alhaji Danjuma Yusuf said all necessary support would be given to the government and the host community to contain these issues of public health concerns.