Ademola Adeshina
The Kwara State Government has banned house-to-house distribution of palliatives to beneficiaries.
The state government said that it could be dangerous, counter-productive could lead to unintended community transmission of Coronavirus.
Deputy governor of the state and chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr. Kayode Alabi, in a press statement, issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor/Spokesman of the COVID-19 Committee, Rafiu Ajakaye, stated that donors or their privies could drop their materials at collection points in each Ward under strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols.
“His Royal Highness the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya will brief the press tomorrow April 1, 2020 on the modalities of distributing the government’s palliative measures which shall be done in phases to ensure efficiency.
“While thanking everyone who has donated materials and money for this cause, including those who are privately reaching out to the public, the government notes a dangerous trend in the way some palliatives are being shared.
“Pictures have surfaced online showing people moving from house to house to share things for whatever mileage.
“This is very dangerous as it could lead to unintended community transmission of Coronavirus.
“Following informed opinion of the medical advisory committee of the technical committee on COVID-19, the government hereby bans such house to house distribution of materials at this time.
“Donors or their privies can drop such materials at collection points in each ward while beneficiaries go there and pick under strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols. Further information will be given in this regard by His Royal Highness in his briefing tomorrow.
“Donors who may want to be identified with the gestures may wish to brand such materials or food stuffs in their names, political or social affiliations.
“Once again, the government commends everyone who has reached out to the poor at this time.
“However, such must be done without provoking a crisis we are trying to prevent in Kwara State.
“Finally, we wish to state that Kwara State does not have any confirmed case of COVID-19 as at this minute. We continue to be on the alert and we urge the public to be as specific as possible when offering intelligence to our medical team.”