Admin l Monday, December 14, 2020
AKURE, Ondo, Nigeria – The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Health Matters, Hon (Dr.) Jibayo Adeyeye has charged corps members to assist Government to wage war against Lassa fever epidemic ravaging the state.
The Special Adviser who is equally the acting Commissioner, Ministry of Health made the charge when he addressed the 2020 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1B) corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
The cerebral medical doctor said the corps members have a role to play in exterminating the scourge because of their exposure and educational background.
“The administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) has been waging unrelenting war against Lassa fever which is prevalent in Ondo North senatorial district and some areas of Central senatorial district and we request the services of young, educated and enlightened youths to accomplish the task”.
“Your resilience and doggedness which had seen you surmounting the educational hurdles in your various institutions of higher learning has placed you in a vantage position to fight successfully and decimate the scourge”.
“You have the capacity to respond to and curtail the spread of this life threatening fever and this is the sole reason why the Ondo State Government is willing to partner with NYSC to engage you as volunteers to help educate the citizens and residents of the State on the need to live in a clean environment” he said.
The medical practitioner who was a one time majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly disclosed that the government has purchased adequate rodenticides which will be distributed from house to house to prevent further escalation of the scourge.
Honourable (Dr.) Adeyeye said that he was highly impressed with the discipline exhibited by the corps members in wearing the face mask in an appropriate manner.
“It gladdens my heart to see all of you observing the protocols of COVID -19 and I want to encourage you to preach what you are doing here when you leave the Camp so that we can flatten the curve that is on the rise again”.
“Since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus pandemic in the state, we have lost about 41 but in the case of Lassa fever, the fatality is above 80 people. You can see the reason why you should join us in the war against Lassa fever”.
The Ondo town elite admonished the corps members to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme ‘as the nation is moving towards self sufficiency’.
“The skills acquired or vocations learnt will definitely propel you to greatness. In the time past, paid employment is an end in itself but now, those jobs are non existent”.
The politician cum farmer who has a large expanse of farmland with variety ranging from livestock which include poultry, piggery, cattle ranch to cash crops like cocoa and kolanut admonished the members of the service corps to think about going into farming as a means of investment and livelihood.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended has given absolute privilege to Public Servants to engage in farming activities and I want to tell you that you will not regret taking the action”.
The State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio while welcoming the acting Commissioner to the camp said that NYSC has qualified and competent youths in all areas of human endeavours and will deploy such to the services of the State on request.
Mrs. Akpabio said that the coming of the politician cum farmer to seek collaboration with the Scheme and to give them motivational talk will boost the morale of the highly disciplined set of corps members deployed to Ondo State and those dislodged from Lagos State.
Hon (Dr.) Adeyeye who had earlier inspected the ongoing Camp Clinic and OBS Studio building projects lauded the State Coordinator, Mrs. Akpabio for her foresight.
“I salute your courage. I salute your organisational ability and a mind for progress which has made you to achieve all these within the time you reported in the State and we shall appreciate if your headquarters in Abuja can leave you here so that you can help us the more to build the State”.
“You have built a legacy which posterity will be kind and remember you for. Ondo State will never forget your zeal, determination and drive which has made you an outstanding achiever in the Sunshine State” he concluded.
