AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Adebola Ekanola, has expressed worries on public disposition to COVID-19 precautions, saying that about 10 deaths relating to the disease have occurred so far within the university community.
Ekanola made the disclosure during a virtual meeting of deans and heads of the departments of university organised by the University of Ibadan COVID-19 emergency response team.
The VC alleged that there had been laxity on adherence to the use of personal protection. He attributed the public perception to assumption by many that they were immune and safe from the infection.
He stressed further that although the university had not been adversely affected by the pandemic, students and staff of the institution should take charge by being responsive so as to mitigate the impact of the disease within the academic community.
According to him, attention should be paid to personal hygiene in order to guide against the risk of the pandemic.
The don said that a task force on adherence by students and staff of the university to COVID-19 measures – such as wearing of face masks, hand washing and social distancing – was being inaugurated.
The Head, Department of Virology, Prof. Georgina Odaibo, stated that tests done at the university’s Department of Virology indicated that the infection rate had gone up from about 1.5 per cent in April, 2.8 per cent in May, to 12 per cent by June ending and 16 per cent in July.
Odaibo, who stressed the importance of adherence to protective measures, said that disregarding them could lead to epidemic in the university.
Indicating that compliance with COVID-19 protective protocol had been fully enforced at religious centres within the university, the Director, University of Ibadan Health Services, Dr Aderonke Ajav, described hygiene maintenance as the responsibility of all.
The Coordinator, UI COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee, Prof. Victoria Adetunji, said the enlightenment programme became necessary because of the incidents of delta variant of the virus in the country.
She said, “The steep increase in daily cases (of the virus) in Nigeria since July, and the increasing positivity rate for the infection and the potential third wave of the infection at the University of Lagos, called for adequate precautions.”
