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INAUGURAL COMMITTEE ON COVID 19 AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES, REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY RT. HON. SIMON B. LALONG GOVERNOR PLATEAU STATE.

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSGG, AT THE INAUGURATION OF A RESEARCH TEAM ON CORONA VIRUS AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT THE BANQUET HALL, OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE, RAYFIELD - JOS, 18TH MAY 2020.
PROTOCOLS
1. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this very important but brief event, which is the inauguration of a Research Team for Corona Virus and other Infectious Diseases in Plateau State.
2. Let me first appreciate you all for accepting to step up to this special call towards evolving home-grown solutions to our health challenges in Plateau State.
3. Although we have had to deal with many infectious diseases in the past, we have not been confronted with anything like the Corona Virus Pandemic in recent history. Indeed, our generation is facing perhaps one of its most difficult times.
4. Clearly, COVID-19 has reminded us of the need to be proactive in not only upgrading our medical facilities and improving manpower, but also working ahead to develop preventive and curative capacity for infectious diseases.
5. Here on the Plateau, we are endowed with human and material resources that are capable of giving us the solutions we desire for the treatment of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 that we are dealing with today.
6. It is for this reason that I decided to bring together this crop of professionals who have done so such in the field of medical and pharmaceutical research within and outside the State to brainstorm and come up with practical alternatives to our dependence on foreign solutions.
7. It is a known fact that Plateau State is endowed with herbal and medicinal products that could be harnessed towards building our capacity to withstand the threat of diseases such as the Corona Virus if, and when they spring up.
8. Therefore, we must not only look inwards to find a solution to the current COVID-19 challenge, but also use today’s experience to prepare for the future in order to avoid panic and desperation.
9. Consequently, Government is today inaugurating this Special Academic Research Committee on Corona Virus and other Infectious Diseases with key researchers drawn from Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Natural Sciences within the tertiary institutions in the State.
10. The Research Committee which has Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as the lead Faculty, has the following membership:
1. Prof Noel N. Wannang
2. Prof Jacob A. Kolawole
3. Dr Falang Kakjing
4. Prof James Damen
5. Dr Yusuf Agabi
6. Dr Richard J Kutshik
7. Dr Bukar Bukata
8. Dr Ajima Ukpe
9. Dr Ken Amagon
10. Dr Longdet I. Yohanna
11. Representative of the Plateau State Ministry of Health
12. Representative from the Infectious Unit of Medicine Department, JUTH.
13. Representative from Veterinary Research Institute, Vom.
The Terms of Reference of the committee include:
(a) To Search for conventional and/or alternative drugs for the treatment and cure of the Corona virus.
(b) Design treatment protocols for the treatment of the virus.
(c)Conduct clinical trials on the candidate drug (s).
(d) Design control mechanism for the spread of the virus.
(e) Any other design that will curtail the pandemic and subsequent diseases.
(f) The Committee may co-opt any relevant professional to facilitate its assignment.
11. Because of the emergency we are currently facing, the Committee has one week to present a proposal to Government. Within three weeks, Government will be expecting a draft of research prospects, while fortnightly; a progress report should be submitted. 
12. It is important to emphasize that members of this team were assembled purely on merit and in recognition of their antecedents in the field of research. 
13. From the list, it is evident that they are not only Plateau State indigenes, but a squad of seasoned scientists from various parts of the country that will give results.
14. While carrying out this special assignment, I want to charge you to have at the back of your mind that at the long run, all our efforts should lead us towards establishing a modern infectious diseases hospital in Plateau State.
15. On this note, it is my privilege to formally inaugurate this Academic Research Committee on Corona Virus and other Infectious Diseases to the Glory of God and for the health and safety of our people.
16. Thank you.
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG
Executive Governor, Plateau State & Chairman,
Northern Governors Forum.
18th May, 2020.

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