In a report by an online newspaper, premium times, The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) have confirmed a patient who tested positive to coronavirus in their facility despite repeated claims by the governor of state prof Ben ayade that the state is coronavirus free.
Only last week , the DG of the health agency, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said no state in the country Is free from the virus despite the fact It has not announced any confirmed case of COVID-19 in the South-South state.
With this latest development, The hospital management said it has already informed the NCDC of the recent development which added a new twist to the controversy trailing the COVID-19 free status of Cross Rivers State.
Yesterday , the NCDC announced 594 newly confirmed cases bringing to 22, 614, the total number of infections in the country excluding Cross Rivers.
“With recent developments, it does appear that the state (Cross Rivers) may not be free of COVID-19 as generally believed,” an internal hospital memo exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES said. “A recent rapid test carried out on a patient came out positive. However, the patient had recovered and was discharged from our isolation centre last week.”
In a memo dated June 25 and directed to all department units, staff and patients of UCTH by the hospital’s chief medical director, Ikpeme Ikpeme, “henceforth there will be strict entry and exit protocols into our facilities in furtherance to steps taking to protect staff and patients against the virus.”
This latest revelation is coming few weeks after PREMIUM TIMES reported the death of a lawmaker representing the Obudu State constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Godwin Akwaji, with clear and obvious symptoms of COVID-19 at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Isolation centre.
Despite these obvious cases, Authorities in Cross River have continued to insist that the state is COVID-19 free despite been in the midst of states with confirmed cases, with an allegation that there is a plot to ensure the state records a case.
The state government, Last week, futher accused the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health of shipping positive and negative test kits and cartridges to the Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar, to violate the state’s COVID-19 free status.
In a swift reply, The agency denied the allegation by the state’s Commissioners of Information and Health, describing it as a misinterpretation of the country’s COVID-19 testing strategy and efforts to protect the health of Nigerians from the disease.
“There is enough anecdotal evidence to support the belief that cases of the COVID-19 disease exist in the (Cross River) State,” Efik Leadership Foundation said recently in a letter it wrote to Muhammadu Buhari, requesting the Nigerian President to intervene in the matter.
The group said the Cross River government has been “rejecting” COVID-19 testing in the state.
In the internal memo, the UCTH management said the NCDC has approved the hospital as an independent isolation centre.
Mr Ikpeme, the hospital CMD said the implication of this is that henceforth “we do not need to pass samples through the epidemiology unit of the state as was the case before.
“The hospital can now send samples directly to NCDC accredited laboratories while the NCDC works to help set up and accredit our laboratory. We therefore urge everybody to honestly do the needful to ensure that our community is protected from the coronavirus pandemic.”
The hospital Management also urged staff and patients to protect themselves as maximally as possible.
“This is however without prejudice that health caregivers must make themselves available at all times to provide adequate treatment to patients without fear.
Management, on the other hand, will do everything possible to ensure staff and patients are adequately protected in line with NCDC guidelines,” the memo said.
Calls and texts Friday morning to Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC executive director, on seeking to know if the agency has duly been notified of the recent development and how it would respond were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
BELOW IS THE FULL MEMO BY THE HOSPITAL
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
P. M. B 1278
Calabar
————————————————————————————————————-
CIRCULAR
From: Chief Medical Director
To: Heads of Departments/Units, Staff and Patients
Date: June 25th 2020.
UCTH STAFF HEALTH ADVISORY: CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Management of the University of Calabar teaching hospital is aware of the agitation and uncertainties associated with coronavirus pandemic in the state. With recent developments, it does appear that the state may not be free of COVID-19 as generally believed. A recent rapid test carried out on a patient came out positive.
However, the patient had recovered and was discharged from our isolation centre last week.
Management, therefore, urges staff and patients to protect themselves as maximally as possible. This is however without prejudice that health caregivers must make themselves available at all times to provide adequate treatment to patients without fear. Management, on the other hand, will do everything possible to ensure staff and patients are adequately protected in line with NCDC guidelines.
The UHC management has been in direct contact with the NCDC director and the NCDC has approved the hospital as an independent centre. the implication of this is that henceforth we do need to pass samples through the epidemiology unit of the state as was the case before. The hospital can now send samples directly to NCDC accredited laboratories while the NCDC works to help to set up and accredit our laboratory. We, therefore, urge everybody to honestly do the needful to ensure that our community is protected from the coronavirus pandemic.
In furtherance of steps taking to protect our staff, patients and facilities, management will ensure strict compliance with measures geared towards protecting our population. This will involve strict entry and exit protocols into our facilities. We urge understanding, patience and cooperation.
Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme
Chief Medical Director.
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