Ondo State responds to first coronavirus case with the establishment of Covid response fund committee

ONDO State has reacted to the emergence of its first case of Covid-19 with the establishment of a six-man Ondo State Coronavirus Response Fund in which Governor Rotimi Akeredolu's son serves as the secretary.

Yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), informed Governor Akeredolu that a military officer who recently returned  from India was the first confirmed Covid-19 case in the state. Since his return, the soldier has been in isolation since and is being monitored by the medical team of the Nigerian military and the Ondo State civilian health authorities.

Governor Akeredolu said: “Upon showing some symptoms, his samples were taken and the diagnosis confirmed by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control at their lab in Ede. We have now commenced the transfer of the officer to the state isolation."

He urged the residents of the state to stay calm, adding that the government has put necessary measures in place to identify all the contacts of the patient. According to the governor, the government is working closely with the NCDC and the infected person is in a stable condition.

He stressed that the government was on top of the situation and urged residents to continue to stay safe and follow all the preventive measures against the disease. Donald Ojogo, the Ondo State information commissioner, added that in response, the governor has instituted a committee with a mandate to help mobilise funds in cash or kind and manage the efficient and transparent utilisation of such monies.

Members of the committee include its chairman, Kayode Falowo, its vice chairman Akin Odumakin, its secretary the governor's son Babajide Akeredolu, Cecilia Akintomide,  Segun Fagboyegun and Professor  Adesegun Fatusi. Its terms of reference are to recommend and advise the government on funding strategies, manage all funds mobilised, direct a funding campaign, identify and contact effective funding channels/sources and carry out any other activities for the success of the above-mentioned.

This response fund committee will work closely with the Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee and is expected to begin work immediately. It will provide weekly reports and submit a concrete completion report at the end of its activities.

For transparency and accountability, the committee will work with Ernst and Young, who will act as fund advisors. SIAO Partners will serve as the external auditors for the fund.