…as fear grips other doctors, nurses, cleaners in hospital’s emergency ward
No fewer than four doctors working at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, went into isolation at the weekend after being exposed to a patient who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 after he died in the hospital.
The four doctors, The Point gathered from a very reliable source at LUTH, were said to have been directly exposed to the 55-year-old patient in the Accident and Emergency Room, unaware of his true status.
The development is now causing serious fears among doctors, nurses and other health workers in the Emergency room of LUTH, where the patient was admitted and treated until his death.
It was learnt that the family members of the infected patient allegedly hid his symptoms and did not disclose to the hospital authorities that he had just returned to the country from Europe.
The patient was also said to have been kept in the same open space with many other patients admitted in the LUTH Emergency Ward after he was rushed to the hospital by his family.
Many doctors, nurses, cleaners and other health workers were said to have been exposed to the infected patient before his death in the hospital.
The Point gathered that after the patient’s death, an autopsy conducted on his remains confirmed that he died from complications arising from his being infected with the Coronavirus.
A doctor at the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told The Point at the weekend, “The man is now dead, but he was later confirmed positive for Coronavirus.
“The fear now is that doctors, nurses, and other health workers who attended to him without using the special Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) may have caught the virus.
“This is the kind of risks doctors and other health workers are exposed to everyday in the course of their duties. Our lives are always at great risk.”
Efforts by our correspondent to confirm the development from the hospital authorities failed as its officials declined to comment on the matter.
The President of the LUTH chapter of NARD, Dr. Judith Jolayemi, could also not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
But the hospital, later at the weekend, confirmed the death of the patient in the hospital.
LUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode, said in a statement that the patient was brought by his friends to the hospital’s Emergency Ward on Thursday evening in an unconscious state.
Bode said the victim and his friend did not disclose any travel history, adding that investigations revealed that the deceased had earlier tested positive for coronavirus at “Yaba” upon his return from Holland.
The LUTH CMD said, “Although they denied any history of recent travel, his presentation strongly suggested COVID-19.
“He was handled professionally by the Infectious Diseases Consultant and his team without unduly exposing LUTH staff to danger. He died a few hours later.
“Further investigations later revealed he had earlier performed a test at Yaba soon after he travelled back to Nigeria from Holland and the test was positive.
“He was a known diabetic hypertensive patient. He also had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immunosuppressant drugs.
“The corpse has since been handed over to the appropriate Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health for safe burial according to international best practices.
Confirming The Point’s story, Bode added, “Our Department of Community Medicine has moved swiftly to trace, follow-up and assist gallant staff who managed the patient.”
He said the hospital management had implored all members of staff to continue to observe strict standard protocols in their handling of all patients as medical personnel are especially at increased risk from such undisclosed exposure.
The LUTH CMD further said, “All efforts are being made to ensure the availability of all required items to continue the effective management of such cases that come to LUTH.
“Efforts are also in top gear to complete the isolation facility in LUTH for management of any possible spillover from the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, if the surge in patients’ load continues.”