Edo Speaker shares experience after surviving COVID-19, commends health workers

By Joy Okosieme

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye, has advised people resident in the state to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the state government for screening and testing to check the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Okiye is one of the seven patients to recover fully after testing positive for the virus. He was treated with support from the state government. Some of the survivors were treated at the state’s isolation centres.

The speaker, who officially resumed for work on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, after due clearance, expressed appreciation to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, cabinet members, and the state’s medical team. He said:

“The virus is not a death sentence. I thank the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government, the medical team, and members of my family and others who prayed for me.

“It is common knowledge that the virus has no cure or vaccine. It is not a death sentence. People should take the directives of the government and health experts on social distancing and other instructions seriously.”

The Speaker said he pulled through the illness because he commenced treatment early.

“The test was carried out after I became symptomatic. It is better to know your status early enough,” the speaker said.

He added, “People should be cautious. We should comply with the directives of the state government to check the spread of the virus. I went into self-isolation after returning from the United Kingdom. Suspecting that I was exposed, I needed to save my family, so I contacted the Commissioner for Health who came with a team of medical professionals to inspect the place set up for my self-isolation.

Hon. Okiye said it was a challenging initially to hear he had contracted the virus:

“It was after I tested positive for coronavirus that I became a bit destabilized.  After a while and with continuous interaction with people, I started overcoming the virus with local herbs and medication. I was placed on drugs to deal with the symptoms. A few days later, I started feeling better. Mine was with mild symptoms. I was not hit hard by the virus.”