The death of a patient who was cleared of Coronavirus by Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, has sparked fear amongst inhabitants, health workers and patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State.
Trouble started when samples of the three patients who presented symptoms of Covid-19 were taken to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for diagnosis. All three results were returned as negative and this prompted doctors in UBTH to move the patients to the male Accident and Emergency Ward from the isolation area they were initially restricted to and this tragic decision have room for them to mingle with health workers and other patients.
Their condition however deteriorated, and the death of one, which prompted a second coronavirus test. All three samples returned as positive.
A doctor who spoke to Midwest Herald last night explained that: “…when the first series of test was reported to be negative, the patients were removed from isolation and taken into the male medical ward and in the process, other patients, doctors, nurses, cleaners, porters and patients relatives have been exposed to the deadly virus.”
The wrong laboratory test that was returned by the management of ISTH led to the conclusion by the UBTH that casualty died as a result of pre-existing medical chronic kidney disease. When his condition deteriorated he was taken for dialysis where staff of UBTH were further exposed before he gave up the ghost in the intensive care unit.
Expectedly, the medical error committed by ISTH management has brought confusion and fear to Hospital, as 13 houseofficers and at least 8 Residents have been directed to go on compulsory isolation due to their direct contact with the Covid-19 patients. The situation may lead to the closure of the ICU department.
Midwest Herald learnt that one of the infected patient has been transferred to Irrua Specialist Hospital, while the remaining one has been moved back to isolation.
It is instructive to note that the management of both federal health institutions have been heavily criticized by workers and stakeholders for their lack-lustre handling of their hospitals.
Doctors and Nurses of both institutions have repeatedly complained of lack of medical consumables, including protective equipment and improved condition of work. In Irrua, patients and nurses have cried loud about the failure of Prof. Sylvanus Okogbenin led management to reticulate the water from the borehole that was provided by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the different departments.
Recently, an audio tape by a nurse in ISTH on the terrible state of affairs went viral and the whistle blower was immediately suspended.
In UBTH, the present situation has intensified the criticism that has traced the administration.
Prof Darlington Obaseki has been constantly criticized for the poor handling of infectious diseases in the hospital due to lack of personal protective equipment. The general opinion amongst medical practitioners is that the hospital was never prepared for COVID-19, despite assurances from government.
In his attempt to wade off attack from doctors, he has hurriedly set-up a life insurance package for health workers that will be in the frontline of treating COVID-19 patients.
As put midly
Fumigation is presently ongoing in the wards and emergency units of the hospital. The usually COVID-19: Fear Grips Edo Over Irrua Teaching Hospital Error… Doctors, Others Self-Isolate
The death of a patient who was cleared of Coronavirus by Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, has sparked fear amongst inhabitants, health workers and patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State.
Trouble started when samples of the three patients who presented symptoms of Covid-19 were taken to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for diagnosis. All three results were returned as negative and this prompted doctors in UBTH to move the patients to the male Accident and Emergency Ward from the isolation area they were initially restricted to and this tragic decision have room for them to mingle with health workers and other patients.
Their condition however deteriorated, and the death of one, which prompted a second coronavirus test. All three samples returned as positive.
A doctor who spoke to Midwest Herald last night explained that: “…when the first series of test was reported to be negative, the patients were removed from isolation and taken into the male medical ward and in the process, other patients, doctors, nurses, cleaners, porters and patients relatives have been exposed to the deadly virus.”
The wrong laboratory test that was returned by the management of ISTH led to the conclusion by the UBTH that casualty died as a result of pre-existing medical chronic kidney disease. When his condition deteriorated he was taken for dialysis where staff of UBTH were further exposed before he gave up the ghost in the intensive care unit.
Expectedly, the medical error committed by ISTH management has brought confusion and fear to Hospital, as 13 houseofficers and at least 8 Residents have been directed to go on compulsory isolation due to their direct contact with the Covid-19 patients. The situation may lead to the closure of the ICU department.
Midwest Herald learnt that one of the infected patient has been transferred to Irrua Specialist Hospital, while the remaining one has been moved back to isolation.
It is instructive to note that the management of both federal health institutions have been heavily criticized by workers and stakeholders for their lack-lustre handling of their hospitals.
Doctors and Nurses of both institutions have repeatedly complained of lack of medical consumables, including protective equipment and improved condition of work.
In Irrua, patients and nurses have cried loud about the failure of Prof. Sylvanus Okogbenin led management to reticulate the water from the borehole that was provided by Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the different departments.
Recently, an audio tape by a nurse in ISTH on the terrible state of affairs went viral and the whistle blower was immediately suspended.
In UBTH, the present situation has intensified the criticism that has traced the administration.
Prof Darlington Obaseki has been constantly criticized for the poor handling of infectious diseases in the hospital due to lack of personal protective equipment. The general opinion amongst medical practitioners is that the hospital was never prepared for COVID-19, despite assurances from government.
In his attempt to wade off attack from doctors, he has hurriedly set-up a life insurance package for health workers that will be in the frontline of treating COVID-19 patients.
His intervention may have come too late as the workforce has depleted with the isolation and refusal of doctors and nurses to take critical risk without adequate preparation.
Perhaps the gigantic danger facing Edo State now is the tracing of hundreds of people that came in contact with the dead patient and the two others that are UBTH and ISTH.