By Olanrewaju Adesanya
SUNRISE NEWS, Lagos, July 26, 2020 Lagos State House of Assembly staffers on Sunday stormed the Yaba Isolation and Treatment Centre for COVID-19 test following the Speaker’s directive that everyone should know his or her status.
The staff members, aides and journalists covering the House were led to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) turned Isolation Centre at the early hour of Sunday by the Chairman House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Akeem Shokunle representing Oshodi/Isolo constituency I.
Speaking with newmen at the Isolation and Treatment Center, Hon. Shokunle said it was not enough to observe all the protocols recommended by WHO, NCDC and other medical experts alone, it had also become necessary for everyone to know his or her status.
“You will recall that the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa asked us all to go for testing, the House in its wisdom also decided to extend it to the staffers and aides alike.
So that nobody would have any excuse for not doing the test, we organised the test on two or three occasions within the Assembly complex for both lawmakers and staff. I still have to mobilise down here those who missed the test on those occasions”, he said.
A medical expert who addressed the staff while waiting to be tested, Dr. Mutiu said they should continue to observe the safety precautions recommended by the healthcare providers even after getting their results and they test negative for the virus.
His words; ” Unlike before that it took longer period, your results should be out between 5 to 7 days, this will be sent to your WhatsApp number in PDF format, that is why we asked you to ensure you leave with us your correct information, although, you can always come back here for hard copy of your result if you need it.
However, that you test negative now does not mean you should become careless and stop observing the safety precautions recommended by the medical experts because your results will only be valid for as long as you don’t expose yourselves to the virus.
One of the lawmakers’ aides who spoke with journalists at the test centre, Mogaji Fausat said she needed to do the test so as to be sure of her status and know how to continue to keep herself safe.
“I missed the test on two occasions when they came to the Assembly Complex to conduct the test for lawmakers and other staff members, so, having another opportunity to do it right here at the Yaba Isolation centre, I have to take advantage of that.
Knowing my stutus has become necessary because I take public transport everyday and contrary to government’s recommendation for spacing in the bus, the transport operators carry passangers with disregard to the rule while they still hike the fare.
Since the test is free and it doesn’t cost me more than my transport fare from my house to this place, why won’t I take advantage of it, at least, Lagos State House of Assembly has made it easy for us and we are grateful”, she said.