COVID-19: With Release Of Funds, We’re Ready To Perform – Gombe Taskforce Declares
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI IN GOMBE – Following the release of funds by the Gombe State Government, the State Taskforce on COVID-19 has declared that it is no longer broke and now more than ever ready to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state particularly by boosting its contact tracing and testing capacities.
Chairman of the Committee, Professor Idris Mohammed, who stated this while briefing journalists
said the Committee has now been boosted with funds to enable it carry out its activities, foremost among which is the contact tracing and testing of COVID-19 suspects since the State is now in the stage of community transmission.
When asked about what the Committee had spent since its inauguration about five months ago and the amount recently released, in line with his policy of transparency and accountability, the chairman said that this may require going through their financial records as he will like to be very specific with figures.
Mohammed also said; “In our policy of transparency and truth, we will love to give you figures that we have certified to be correct. I cannot tell you how much we have received from beginning or the recent allocation.
“Unless it comes to auditing purposes or there is suspicion of wrong doings, these issues do not really concern the public. But I want to assure you that Government itself has mandated that every kobo spent by the Taskforce must be audited and a complete audit submitted to him (Governor)”.
He however commended the change in attitude of most people who now come out to be tested voluntarily as well as identifying suspected persons with COVID-19 cases as sub-committees have been going round communities for contact tracing of those who have come in contact with people who have tested positive.
Mohammed said Gombe State now has 134 active cases of COVID-19 on admission at the various isolation centres within the State adding that 19 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak of the pandemic.
