NYSC Swears In 800 Corps Members Amidst COVID-19 Scare In Anambra

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra says there was a suspected case of COVID-19 among the new set of corps members inaugurated on Monday in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.

Kehinde Aremu, Coordinator of NYSC in Anambra, who disclosed this said a corps member who was among the 800 members sworn in for 2020 Batch B Stream 1A orientation course in the state showed some symptoms similar to those of the COVID-19 when his temperature was taken.

He, however, did not disclose the identity of the corps member and where he hails from.

Aremu was speaking at the official opening of camp activities for the new corps members at the Mbaukwu/Umuawulu permanent orientation camp.

He disclosed that the affected corps member was immediately handed over to the government through the disease management team for treatment.

HumAngle reports that only the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has power to confirm the status of patients.

” We had a single case which the state government had already taken care of through the state disease management team, anyone that fails the test, the medical personnel will take over management of the case,” he said.

According to him, the scheme was collaborating with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the management of corps members and to ensure operations of the scheme remain under strict compliance of COVID-19 safety protocol.

“All our activities are arranged sequentially and in agreement with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and NCDC guidelines whose officials are also resident here to administer COVID-19 test on both camp officials and corps members,” Aremu said.

Aremu said the number of prospective corps members was deliberately reduced to ensure strict adherence to the NCDC guidelines, adding that the leftovers would be captured in the next batch.

He said the camp was fully prepared for post-COVID-19 camping realities adding that all necessary approval was got from the relevant agencies.

“We have only 800 corps members in the state, and that number was segmented into four batches of 200 which was given separate times to report like morning, afternoon and evening,” he said.

“The camp has the capability for 3,000 corps members but we staggered it so that each corps member is entitled to a double bunk bed. We also have hand wash facilities, soap, sanitisers and steady water supply.”

Speaking at the orientation exercise, Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State charged the corps members to be of good behaviour and continue to be bridge builders for the nation.

Obiano who was represented by Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, the Secretary to the State Government urged the new corps members to align themselves with his administration’s vision and developmental drive for the communities.