Plateau State COVID-19 Taskforce Emergency Response Committee, on Saturday addressed the state leadership of Bloggers and Online Media Association at the Old Government House Jos.
The Plateau State Government called on the group of bloggers and online media practitioners to be proactive in partnering with the government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic given that the government has set perimeters in curbing the spread.
Secretary to Government of the State and Coordinating Secretary of the Taskforce, Prof. Danladi Abok Atu said that government has put in place measures to wage war on all fronts against the Covid-19 pandemic and as such government is not leaving anyone behind in the fight for humanity and commended the media for the efforts thus far as they have done more in sensitizing the public on both preventive measures and essential educative information.
Prof. Danladi Atu noted that the state was yet to record any case of coronavirus as such it was eminent that all persons who are developing any symptoms to self isolate for the good of their family and friends
He went on to admonish the bloggers and online media group to desist from fake news to maintain the reputation of the group as the government was counting on a lasting partnership with the group. He said Bloggers and Social media should be active in debunking and neutralizing fake news to douse tension in the state.
The government was counting on the partnership of the group on three basic fronts namely; To educate the public on restrictions set by the government; To Help in the tracing of contacts thereby creating awareness on state isolation centers with some places already donated to the government namely Nysc orientation camp in Plateau, Trauma hospital in Ryom, Mees Palace Event Centre, Eagle hotel Haipang; To sensitize Plateau Citizenry on how to prevent the virus and contain any spread in the event of an outbreak.
Comr. Friday Bako, Chairman Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association said the meeting was quite apt given that bloggers and online media practitioners have actively been involved in informing and educating the general public even before the outbreak of coronavirus. He said the rise of the group was given to the urgency to tackle all merchants of fake news and a call for pro-activeness among online news medium.
Furthermore, the chairman commended the Plateau state government on the measures set to curb the spread of coronavirus given that the state is yet to report any case. He noted that the group will go all out in support of the government with an apt situation report further calling on the government to also give preventive kits of sanitizers and nose masks to protect and enhance effective feedback reports from the field. The group also looked forward to future partnership with the government on other fronts even beyond the covid-19 pandemic.
