GOV. SANWO-OLU HONOURS FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday recognized the frontline health workers as the heroes of the state’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanwo-Olu in a speech delivered to mark the first year of his administration declared them heroes.

At the ceremony which held at the Lagos House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu said the gesture is to personally demonstrate his gratitude to the health workers and to boost their morale because “they are the real “heroes” of our battle against the pandemic and have contributed immensely to the success of his administration in the past one year.

Sanwo-Olu said in appreciation of the frontline health workers and as motivation the state had earlier given them a bumper health insurance cover of N5billion and also raised their hazard allowance by 400 per cent.

He honoured leaders of various medical teams deployed to all isolation facilities across the state, presenting them with plaques of honour in appreciation their selfless effort in combating the coronavirus.

The 10 health workers received the plaques at a simple ceremony which held at the state house, Marina as part of the events in marking the administration’s first year.

The governor said “The current pandemic ravaging cities and communities all over the world is not something we have seen in last 100 years. As the epicentre of the outbreak in the country, Lagos has taken charge and offered the leadership required in the response to stop the virus. As demonstration of our commitment to winning the battle, we felt the least we can do on the occasion of our first anniversary is to select representatives of the frontline health workers for appreciation.”

He said the selected personnel are not the only persons deserving of the honour, but it is a testimony to government’s resolve to show appreciation to all the frontline workers.

Sanwo-olu noted that, the country has not come out of the pandemic or reached the peak, adding that, the state cannot wait until the crisis is over before acknowledging the sacrifices of the committed people.

The Governor said the period of health emergency has given the State an opportunity to appraise its emergency response mechanism and the need to overhaul the public health infrastructure, adding that his administration will not leave anything to chance to prepare the State for the future health emergency.

Sanwo-Olu re-emphasised the need by the residents to keep to public health guidelines issued by the State Government, stressing that the use of face mask in public places and keeping social distancing remain compulsory in Lagos.

Presenting the health workers for the honour, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the team leaders have displayed uncommon passion and commitment in discharging their duties in this period of public health crisis.