The Community around a donated quarantine facility in Plateau state have raised alarm as the state government led by Simon Bako lalong are converting part of
their community to Covid-19 Quarantine Centre.
A body under the auspices of Coalition of Concerned
Heipang Health Professionals, Berom Youth Moulders’ Association and
Development Associations in Heipang Community of Barkin Ladi Local
Government Area of plateau raised the alarm over the conversion of a
popular hotel located within residential area in the community into a
quarantine centre for COVID-19.
The alarm is contained in a communique issued on
Saturday 18th April, 2020 at the end of a one day workshop on Risk
Communication and Community safety measures against COVID-19 pandemic
organized by concerned health professionals and collaboration with Berom
Youth Moulders’ Association in the community which the Coalition
insisted that the action is against WHO guidelines for the establishment
of such a facility.
The communique signed by the leadership of BYM Heipang
District, Concerned Heipang Health Professionals and Heipang
Progressives’ Development Association was read by Da David Bot.
“Bot said the community is concern that weeks ago, the
Plateau State government established a quarantine centre at Godiya
Tourists Resort which is within a residential area, without the
knowledge of leaders and members of the community, in view of the
inherent risk the facility poses to residents of the area. “
“According to Bot, WHO guidelines for establishing a
quarantine centre clearly indicates amongst others that the facility be
sited in a location at the outskirt of the town and must be far from
residential homes and crowded places.”
He added that the guidelines also stipulates that the
facility should be close to a tertiary health facility for easy
commuting of quarantine clients who might develop symptoms within the
period.
“Bot said the community wondered why government
disregarded these guidelines in view of the highly contagious nature of
COVID-19, siting the centre within residential area as the quarantine
centre shares fence with a residential home.”
The community noted with concern that innocent and
untrained workers in the hotel who live within the community still
render services as against International best practices which states
that stewards should be withdrawn once the hotel is leased out for this
purpose and professionals be engaged.
Bot further disclosed that, a visit to the facility by
the community revealed that the centre lacks biomedical waste management
infrastructure and its internal operations leave much to be desired
with regards to public/community health.
He said the community was shocked to meet a lady her
about 20s carrying waste and disposable plates which quarantine subjects
have used within the compound in a mesh basket as against leak-proof
red, black or yellow containers as stipulated by WHO.
According to the communique, more disturbing was the
fact that the lady was not kitted in any personal protective equipment
(PPE) and waste is disposed in an open space within the hotel were rats,
lizards, birds and scavenger dog can easily access.
The communique further noted that the Community also
wondered why the hotel in use has not been conspicuously marked with
safety signage at the entrance and around the perimeter fencing to keep
unsuspecting residents and customers of the hotel at bay.
The people of the Community however commended efforts of
the federal and plateau state governments geared towards winning the
battle against this pandemic, appealed to the Plateau state government
to consider the relocation of the centre to a safer location like the
Inland Container Depot within the Heipang community which is distance
from residential area or another place that meets WHO guidelines
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