He has done it again! Yes, if there are governors who are systemically fighting the deadly Coronavirus, Prince Dapo Abiodun ranks prominently.
The Dapo Abiodun-led administration has plumbed into the depth of its resources and sense of duty to curtail and contain its spread.
Here is the clincher; days after commissioning additional 249-bed isolation centres in three locations in Ogun State, Governor Abiodun has launched mobile ‘Personal Protective Booths (PPBs)’ in his bid to expand testing while reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure for both patients and healthcare workers.
The first testing booth was installed last week in Ota.
Personal protective booths allow health care providers to collect a swab without making contact with a patient. The technology also helps conserve personal protective equipment (PPE), and to help increase the number of patients tested for coronavirus.
Appraising the impact the PPBs will have, Governor Dapo Abiodun said, “besides its protective benefits to the patient and healthcare providers, it is a huge relief on the costs of fighting the spread of COVID-19.
“Fund has remained an integral part and a big challenge in our quest to flatten the curve. This model makes it economical to conduct as much tests as we can with little cost
“With the adoption of PPBs, we hope to ramp up more testing without having to get people with suspected cases crowded in a place,” he stated.
Abiodun assured the citizens of safety, stressing that there is no need for panic as the medical and other health professionals are on top of the situation.
He explained how the state had been able to manage the pandemic effectively so far and how it surpassed the global average for tested cases and transmission.
“The global average is one positive case to three new infections. In our case, it is one positive case to one new infection. But, even with the relatively lower number of positive and active cases, we will leave no stone unturned to prevent further infection, spread and death from the dreaded virus.
“By the grace of God, we will record a zero number of cases soonest,” he said.
The booth concept allows a clinician to stand inside, apart from the patient and administer a swab test from gloved external hand ports, which are featured on three sides of the booth to increase quantity.
Because the individual inside the booth is not in direct contact with the patient, they do not use additional PPE beyond standard exam gloves and surgical masks which saves vital supply of items, including N95 masks, face shields and gowns.
This brings about a huge reduction in testing cost. A PPE goes for an average of N50,000 and one is needed for each test.
The concept of PPBs started in South Korea and now is gaining popular use in the on-going fight against COVID-19.
