COVID-19: 476 Abuja health workers infected, says FCTA

By GBENGA OMOKHUNU, Abuja

476 health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory staff, drivers and other auxillary personnel were infected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since the first case was recorded in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was learnt on Tuesday.

Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, revealed this in a statement Made available to The Nation.

Out of the figure, he said, four doctors succumbed to the disease, the latest being a female doctor.

He also said despite the challenge of the virus in the FCT and Yuletide, all its hospitals are operating at full capacity, including emergencies for adults, children, delivery and maternity services, 24-hour theatre service and other services.

Ogunleye said: “There has not been any other recorded fatality of a health personnel over the last one week. It is important to mention that these fatalities did not in any way affect the quality of services rendered in hospitals and most certainly not to the point of rendering skeletal services”.

He stated that the FCTA had since the beginning of the pandemic, been in the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and remained as committed as ever in efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Ogunleye also said that the FCTA had continued to place a lot of emphasis on testing and was the first sub-national to reach the testing target of one per cent of its population as recommended by the NCDC.

He disclosed that laboratory and pharmaceutical services and hospital kitchens were fully operational in all health facilities in the territory.

476 health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory staff, drivers and other auxillary personnel were infected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since the first case was recorded in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was learnt on Tuesday.

Ogunleye said that all clinics would resume full services after the Christmas holiday.

The statement reads in part: “the attention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been drawn to a newspaper publication saying that FCT hospitals are presently rendering skeletal services due to the death of 20 medical doctors of COVID-19.

“This figure which is very far from the truth was credited to Dr. Enemo Amadu, the President of the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association.

“Dr Amadu had since said that he was misquoted, as the 20 fatalities he gave was the national figure of doctors who died of the disease, cutting across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

“It is still pertinent that the FCTA sets the records straight in view of the fact that public confidence in public health institutions is very essential in the face of the current public health emergency orchestrated by COVID-19.

“While there had been incidences where COVID-19 positive patients had infected some medical personnel, these personnel and indeed the patients had been treated and discharged and the affected hospitals fully decontaminated.”

Ogunleye advised residents of the FCT to observe all health and safety protocols to contain the spread of the virus by observing physical distancing, frequent hand washing and facial coverings. (The Nation)