The Anambra State Government says it has spent about N1bn in procuring personal protective equipment against coronavirus.
It listed the procured items to include protective clothing, helmets, goggles, face masks, hand gloves and other garments/equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He said, “PPE are very expensive, and you can use over 200 of them during the period of treating just one patient.
“Prevention, protection and treatment need money. We have an estimated population of seven million people, but we have been able to procure three million PPE, which has cost us about N1bn.”
The SSG said the PPE would still be useful after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the state had been proactive, hence its zero record of COVID-19.
Chukwulobelu said, “All the cases we have sent for test have turned out negative. This is attributable to the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who has spared nothing to ensure the protection of the people of the state.
“All our samples have been negative. In fact, we almost went into panic last week over a case, but when the result came out, it was negative.
“The governor has done so much. For now, we are focusing on prevention, and we have largely succeeded. We don’t want protection and treatment for now.
“By next week, we should be able to start testing people. All these things involve money and we urge people to donate to the state government.”