Doctor clears the air on death of Enugu Coronavirus suspect, berates daughter

A medical doctor at the Enugu State Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Parklane has thrown light on the circumstances surrounding the death of the 70-year-old woman suspected of having coronavirus who, however, tested negative for the disease

In an article entitled “Lies and Fallacies By The Daughter Of The 70 Year Old Woman Suspect Of Corona Virus”, Dr. Chinonso Odum berated the woman’s daughter for alleged blackmail and making of unfounded allegations against ESUTH and the Enugu State Government, both of whom she blamed for her mother’s death.

Dr. Odum wrote: “Being circulated on social media platforms were fallacies and lies by the so-called heartbroken oversea- based daughter of 70 year old woman who was in the news recently in Enugu as suspected corona virus patient.

“While I commiserate with the bereaved family over the demise of their mum, I condemn in totality the decision by her daughter to covertly blackmail, blame and malign the medical personnel of Enugu State Teaching Hospital Parklane, government of Enugu State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over the demise of her mum. That is very bad of her.

“It is a public knowledge that the 70 year old woman visited her daughter in London, where she spent five months.

“Upon her return to Nigeria, she developed serious cold, catarrh and other illness similar to covid- 9 symptoms. This may of course be due to the weather condition in London at this winter period coupled with her age. It was also alleged  that the woman was first rushed to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku Ozalla, where the medical personnel on realisation that she just returned from London, rejected, abandoned her and took to their heels for their dear lives.

“It was alleged none of the medical personnel at UNTH agreed to attend to her for fear of being infected with the deadly covid-9 that is ravaging the world now. It was at this point, that the son decided to rush her to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane, where upon their arrival, they concealed the information about her recent return from London and her alleged rejection by UNTH medical personnel from the medical personnel and management of the hospital of Parklane Hospital Enugu. It was after her admission in the hospital that a medical personnel from UNTH went on social media platforms to disclose that a suspected corona virus woman patient who returned from London and was brought to UNTH, but was rejected has been rushed to ESUTH Parklane for treatment.

“This information created panic and apprehension among the medical personnel, patients, management of Parklane Hospital Enugu and residents of Enugu at large. But having come in contact with the woman, the medical personnel became helpless, resigned to fate and alerted the management of the hospital of the news about the woman on social media platforms.

“That was how the Enugu State Government and State Ministry of Health moved into action immediately by providing a conducive environment including a standard and well-equipped isolation centre where the woman was quarantined, her blood sample was urgently taken for laboratory test which the result came out negative in less than 48 hours. The outcome of her laboratory test brought relief upon the medical personnel and all that came in contact with her.

“It is on record that even before the woman was brought to hospital, the state government through the Ministry of Health has put in place proactive measures in place to combat this pandemic in the state in case of emergency.

“While all these things were happening and woman being treated, it was the son of the woman that was with her and not the now heartbroken daughter, who sat in her comfort home in London to peddle falsehoods and lies against Parklane medical personnel, Enugu State government and Governor Ugwuanyi on social media platforms for no just cause.

“It is quite unfortunate that instead of the now heartbroken daughter of the woman to commend and appreciate the efforts and promptness of the medical personnel, management of the Parklane hospital and Enugu State Government in handling the situation and dousing the tension and undue apprehension generated by the incident, she toed the line of cheap blackmail to score cheap popularity.

“Just assuming without conceding, Is she saying that the emotional and psychological trauma her mum suffered for being allegedly rejected at UNTH coupled with her old age is not enough to weigh her down? Or is she saying that cold weather which the old woman was exposed to in London for five months was not enough to make her sick upon return to Nigeria with different weather? There should be limit to blackmail and character assassination, especially as it concerns health issues that no one has absolute control over. No medical personnel is trained to kill patients. They are trained to treat patients. No government or hospital management derives joy seeing patients dying in their hospitals. But that does not mean that patients will not die in hospitals, both in private and public ones, in Nigeria and overseas. They will die because human beings are created to live and die. After all, it is often said that doctors treat patients and God heal them.

“We, the medical personnel in Parklane hospital with massive support from the state government as usual did our best to save the woman. She is not the first patient to die in the hospital and will not be the last. Her demise will not stop people from falling sick and won’t stop them from visiting Parklane Hospital for treatment.

“Enough of this cheap blackmail.”