Coronavirus Pandemic
GOV. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara has assured frontline health workers in the state of special compensation when the pandemic is finally contained.
AbdulRasaq made the pledge on Tuesday in Ilorin when he paid an unscheduled visit to the workers at the COVID-19/Infectious Disease Centre in the state.
He said that the workers had been receiving allowances from the government but that the frontline health workers needed to be handsomely rewarded.
He said they volunteered to help the state in combating the pandemic long before the introduction of allowance.
“We are here today to specially and specifically appreciate you for your untiring efforts at ending the pandemic.
“We will compensate you especially when the pandemic is over. What we are doing now is the payment of your allowance,” he said.
The governor, however, urged the workers not to relent in their commitment to end the disease in the state.
Dr Sikirat Lambe, Chief Medical Director of the centre, described the visit as historic and a better way to boost the morale of the health workers.
She said that Kwara was among the few states with testing centres in the country that helped in the early diagnosis of the infection.
“Kwara is one of the states with a test centre. The state was given this centre in spite of the numerous demands from other states.
“Today is very historic with the way you have come to recognize us here,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, Director, Public Health, Kwara Ministry of Health said that the mortality rate from the disease in the state stood at 2.6 per cent.
He promised that the team would intensify effort to ensure a zero death rate.
Fakayode also announced the plan to set up sample centres in all the local government areas for voluntary testing.
He said that the rate at which health workers were infected with the virus in the state had drastically reduced.
He attributed it to the training organised for the front liners on infectious disease control.
Mr Salihu Alao, Head of Centre, commended the governor for the visit and said that the visit would boost the morale of the workers.
“What you have given us is more than the allowance. We urge you, sir, not to stop this support being given to fight the pandemic,” he said. (NAN)
– Aug. 25, 2020 @ 17:19 GMT |
Tags: COVID-19: Kwara pledges special compensation for frontline health workers
