Posted on: Fri 10-04-2020

Management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) yesterday declared that the two COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in the facility are recovering fast.

Head, Rapid Response Team on COVID-19 at UBTH, Dr. Benson Okwara disclosed this while reacting to a report that there was panic in the hospital over patients receiving care at its isolation centre.

“One of the patient is almost asymptomatic. Our healthcare workers in medical emergency have always put on their medical face masks and hand gloves. They have also maintained other standard precautions, which have been enshrined in UBTH’s care processes,” he stated.

Also, Chairman, Medical Advisory committee (CMAC) UBTH, Professor Casimir Omuemu, said that global best practices were been maintained in handling cases of the disease, stressing that members of its Rapid Response Team have so far deployed 12 doctors, 33 paramedics and 30 nurses, who are on ground to receive any case and provide guidance.

Noting that the areas receiving suspected and confirmed cases were already activated with drugs and personal protective equipment (PPE), he said all out patient clinics were functional, although activities have reduced to facilitate adequate infection control measures.

Meanwhile, Edo State chapter of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) yesterday appealed to the state government to deploy economic palliatives to cushion the effect of the pandemic by providing tax breaks and waivers on other routine bills, as well as provision of food packs or discounted food vouchers for children in the state.

It commended the efforts of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the fumigation of markets across the state. A statement issued by its President and Secretary, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin and Dr. Nkemdilim Okonji, commended the state government fumigation of markets across the state.

“We suggest major disinfection and fumigation of the streets and affected hospitals were occurrence of spread has also occurred. More needs to be done to safeguard the people of Edo State, especially health workers, who are at the forefront of this fight.

“We have had ample time for Edo state to prepare for this pandemic. We have watched world powers struggle through it and lose health workers and lives of their nationals,” the statement added.

MWAN tasked the state government on the need to further reduce the spread and fatalities of COVID-19 in the state, following the increasing number of cases and mortalities in the state.

Source: Guardian 

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