Posted on: Mon 11-05-2020

The Corona virus pandemic has claimed many lives and caused unprecedented disruptions to human existence globally, nationally and locally. As the morbidity and mortality rates increase, the potential havoc on lives and livelihood could reach catastrophic proportions. This premise clearly underscores your recent proactive and indeed commendable steps at curbing the spread of the virus in the State including the recent pronouncement of a total lockdown in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor LGAs in the State.

Doctors in Rivers State however, believe that while this total lockdown will benefit residents of the state and protect lives against corona virus, poor implementation could dangerously worsen other health indices in the state.

It will interest you to know your Excellency that more than 3% of the adult population in Rivers State is diabetic while over 28% of citizens 20years an above are hypertensive.

This huge proportion of Rivers Citizens as well as the many more with other chronic conditions may be denied access to health care services and medications if the total lockdown is not well managed. The morbidities and mortalities that could result from this far out weight the benefits derivable from the lockdown.

 

 

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