LUTH begins admitting coronavirus patients

As part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has started admitting persons who have tested positive for the virus.

Before now, there have been concerns that the COVID-19 positive patient who died at the hospital that did not disclose his status nor travel history during his treatment might have infected some doctors, nurses and other health workers at LUTH.

But its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Chris Bode, told The Guardian yesterday that COVID-19 was a global scourge, adding, “Whether the patient declare his or status or not we are supposed to offer treatment, which we will always do.

“We had decided to take all precautions. When he was admitted most doctors and nurses did not get close to him because they had suspected it was a potential case. Only about two doctors got close to him and are being followed up. Others kept the mandatory two metres distance, because they all knew this could be COVID-19.”

Bode said LUTH’s Virology Laboratory was internationally recognised and was the first to confirm the disease in Nigeria while more than 30 LUTH personnel have been assisting the Lagos Team in various capacities till date.

He explained that LUTH now has more than 120 warriors and volunteers who have trained and were ready to be deployed and that they had earlier identified the four Wards on the newly rehabilitated Block B as suitable for an isolation centre, while efforts were in progress to secure enough resources and consumables for them to admit and treat Nigerians afflicted with COVID-19 in LUTH.

“Working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), we have enough materials to work with and have also suitably modified the wards to commence admissions from the afternoon of Monday the April 6, 2020 in LUTH,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) has explained why its personnel may not cope with virus considering daily increase in the country.

It is also collaborating with Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which have donated 10 of their water trucks for fumigation in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja, Acting Registrar, Dr. Baba Yakubu, said the equipment on ground was grossly inadequate to intensify environmental health surveillance in all identified risk areas.

He also explained, in furtherance of one-health concept, the council has created a platform to coordinate the containment strategy of corona virus in line with federal government directives.

Yakubu, therefore, admonished environmental health practitioners who have not registered to do so with the council, or they would enforce the law on erring ones.

Besides, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have urged the Federal Government to involve them in its action plans since they were the most vulnerable to contract coronavirus in the country.

Chairperson, Network of Disabled Women (NDW), Lois Auta and 22 others, said they were more prone to the pandemic since they have no access to medical attention, and that the number of infested persons could snowball within weeks.   (The Guardian)