WHO official: Many COVID-19 patients in Plateau avoiding isolation centres

William Bassi, coordinator of the World Health Organisation in Plateau, says many people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the state have refused to leave their homes for the isolation centres for treatment.

Bassi spoke during a courtesy visit to the palace of Jacob Gwang, the gbong gwom Jos, on Thursday.

Officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), WHO and the state ministry of information, paid a courtesy visit to the monarch on Thursday to begin the campaign on COVID-19 in Jos north.

The WHO coordinator said a male COVID-19 patient also absconded from one of the isolation centres in the state.

He, however, said efforts were on to trace the fleeing patient and return him to the centre to complete his treatment.

“We have one COVID-19 patient that has absconded from the centre, but I assure you we are on his trail and we will trace him and bring him back to continue with treatment,” Bassi said.

“The major problem we have is that so many people have tested positive but have refused to go to the isolation centre, an example is the Duala Area in Jos North.

“They keep refusing to go to the isolation centres until some demands are met, and this is not good for us all.”

Bassi noted that early identification, isolation and treatment were the best way to stop the spread of the disease.

Bulus Dabit, director of Plateau NOA, said Jos north is the epicentre of the disease in the state and accounts for 76 out of 109 positive cases recorded so far.

Dabit said the high number could be because most people in the community do not believe that COVID-19 is real, hence, the non-compliance with social distancing and observance of personal hygiene.

The director appealed to the traditional ruler to assist in sensitising the people on the need to comply with social/physical distancing, personal hygiene and other safety measures.

Responding, the gbong gwom Jos said he is working with government and relevant agencies to spread awareness of the disease to local communities.

He said the virus could be defeated in the state as the number of discharged cases exceed the number of active cases.