Startling revelations which Trumpeta stumbled upon is that residents of Imo have to depend on facilities outside the state to determine carriers of the dreaded coronavirus even as further reports have it that the chairman of the Task force committee set up by the Imo State government to contain the disease in the state, Prof Maurice Iwu may have called it quit as the chairman.
With the fear of the wave raking coronavirus hitting Nigerians daily, people living in Imo State are getting more worried with the revelation that no health facility including government and private owned hospitals has the testing kits and equipment to determine coronavirus carriers.
According to Trumpeta findings, only the Federal Medical Centre, FMC has managed to establish an Isolation Centre at the hospital premises, but without a testing facility.
From what was gathered, any sample obtained for the coronavirus test are still sent outside the state while efforts are being made to start the testing in Owerri.
Though, sources disclosed that there are rapid test kits but such are not accepted by the World Health Organization, WHO. The ones in use are centres with PCR capacity.
It was further learnt that efforts are on, to ensure a testing machine is obtained for the state.
Meanwhile, information filtered in that Prof Maurice Iwu, who a week ago, was made chairman of the committee to tackle the dreaded disease in the state, has resigned.
No official statement to that effect has been obtained from the former INEC boss and elder brother to the secretary to the state government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, but the social media is awash with the reports of his resignation.
What Trumpeta however obtained was a response to one of the posts from Prof Iwu’s daughter, Ijeoma Nwafor (Nee Iwu) where she gave a clearer picture of the true position.
In the post, Iwu’s daughter states “He is still the chairman. Probably information about meeting with his team leaked; repositioning himself to provide strictly technical advisory and non-executive (as non executive chairman) role, since there’s now a commissioner is what people are seeing as resignation. He wants to assist and lead as necessary, but believes that a non-health or scientific needs of his responsibilities should be done by the government officials. He just believes the commissioner is in a better place to handle procurement processes, finance and any other bureaucratic needs. He is still very humbly chairing the taskforce”.
Trumpeta can reveal that Prof Iwu may have tactically pulled out but softened his exit to avoid embarrassing the Hope Uzodinma administration and his younger brother, who is a key player.
The confusing reaction from Iwu’s daughter which can be relied on, for now further confirms information that Iwu’s departure may not be unconnected to reported disaffection in task force.
Trumpeta was informed that the taskforce lacks proper funding and is uncomfortable with the indifferent approach of the state government to the battle against the pandemic.
Apparently worried by these developments, Iwu was said to have quietly stepped aside to allow government officials take over.
