Covid19
Kogi Govt Still Mum As Doctors Allege Cover-Up
By Ayodele Oluwafemi
The Kogi State Government was as at Wednesday mum over the allegation by doctors in the state that it was frustrating efforts of health workers to carry out COVID-19 tests.
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Agwu Nnanna, had on Tuesday, raised concerns over the increased risks of health workers in the state to COVID-19, due to absence of COVID-19 tests.
Nnanna called on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that COVID-19 tests are carried out in the state in the interest and safety of health workers, noting that some patients are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
In recent days, the Kogi State Government has been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, leading to accusations and counter-accusations.
The State Government disclosed that 111 COVID-19 tests have been carried out in the state, with all returning negative. On the contrary, the NCDC recorded that only one test has been carried out in the state.
A day after the doctors made the allegation efforts to get the government’s reaction on the developing issue were yet to crystallize.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo did not pick his call when contacted on the development and was yet to respond to a text message seeking his clarification on the issue.
Many patients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 have been seen severally in the hospital but efforts to get them tested were frustrated by the state government authorities.
Resident doctors
Nnanna had in a press statement said, “Many patients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 have been seen severally in the hospital but efforts to get them tested were frustrated by the state government authorities.
“There is massive fear at the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja as medical doctors and other health workers raise alarm of imminent danger posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to their lives.
“This was against the backdrop of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report issued on 17th May 2020 that only a single Coronavirus test has been conducted in Kogi State since the disease was recorded in the country about three months ago.
“The doctors are afraid that they are at a high risk of contracting the disease and transmitting the same to their families and other unsuspecting patients.
“It is a known fact that without Coronavirus tests, physicians cannot properly categorize and treat the patients coming into the hospital in accordance with the management protocols.
“The federal ministry of health and the presidential task force on Coronavirus should rally all relevant stakeholders in Kogi State to ensure that tests are being done to ensure the safety of the healthcare workers as they are now the most-at-risk population in the state.
“One cannot underestimate the impact of this disease on the lives of the families who have lost loved ones to it.
“As at today across the country 603 doctors have been exposed, 149 confirmed positive and 7 deaths recorded. We in FMC Lokoja do not wish to be joined in these statistics.”
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