Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force says it has been working in collaboration with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Task Force Team to contain and curtail community spread of the novel Coronavirus.
The Coordinator of the isolation centres in Oyo State and former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, disclosed this while briefing reporters yesterday on the activities of the state Task Force on COVID-19, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said that the concept and principles adopted by the Oyo State Task Force from the onset had put into cognisance factors such as economic, political and scientific forces, which had helped in curtailing the spread of the virus in the state.
Alonge said the UCH Task Force is researching into medications and natural home-grown remedies that can boost people’s immunity against the virus in the state.
He said: “I know that the University College Hospital also has a COVID-19 Task Force that is working very hard to ensure that the patients reported from the hospital are being managed and that their contacts are being managed. So, I believe that all the efforts they are putting in place are going to be beneficial to the workers and the people of Oyo State.”
Prof. Alonge debunked allegations from some quarters that the state COVID-19 Task Force had not involved other health care professionals in the state in its activities to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.
“As a health care professional, I believe very strongly that I did what was appropriate by informing everybody cutting across board and I was glad to welcome them personally as I wrote in the proposal. I’m glad to say that the health care professionals have had training at various levels and are going to participate as volunteers.
“I sincerely hope that those who feel aggrieved should sheathe their swords and partner Oyo State Government in combating this virus, knowing that it has not spared anybody. I don’t think we should cut our nose to spite our face. We should collaborate with one another for the betterment of health care in Oyo State,” he said.
He advised the people to observe hygiene and follow the instructions laid down by experts on COVID-19, to fight the virus.
The state task force said it is deploying the use of technology in its effort at combating the pandemic by introducing phone number and service code for pre-COVID-19 screening.
Explaining how the telephone number and service code works, the government urged residents to dial the code or the number and follow the procedure to determine whether or not they need to get tested for the novel Coronavirus.
The platform for the service code and number, which were both donated by Interswitch, are: (service code) *723*19*6#; and (number) 014400028.
The government said the number and service code platforms offered preliminary screening opportunities to determine who needed to get tested for COVID-19, adding that the two platforms, which offered services in English, Yoruba and Pidgin English, could also be used to report a suspected COVID-19 case.
The government spoke through the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa.
He said: “The Oyo State Government has gone a step further in its fight against the novel Coronavirus. The state Task Force on COVID-19 has introduced the deployment of technology in its fight against the virus by introducing a service code and a phone number.
“The service code is *723*19*6#, while the phone number is 014400028. When dialled, the platforms will request for information on the caller’s/dialler’s current health status, including whether he/she is experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19. It will also request for the individual’s name and current local government of residence.
“If a caller or dialler correctly fills in the information on his or her health situation and medical history, the application will classify such individual as high or low risk, depending on the information provided.
“When a dialler does not need further testing for COVID-19, the application, at that point, will classify such person as low risk and advise him/her to continue to stay safe by adhering to precautionary guidelines.
“In the case of an individual with information that matches those with COVID-19 symptoms, the application will classify the caller as high risk and direct such person to self-isolate, cough into elbows, wash/sanitise hands regularly, avoid touching mouth, nose or face and engage in healthy diet.”
Adisa urged residents to avail themselves the opportunity of the phone number and service code, adding that they should adhere to the precautionary measures issued by the COVID-19 Task Force.

By Yinka Adeniran