By M. Peter – Jos
38 patients with the COVID-19 disease have so far been treated and discharged from the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, no death recorded.
The hospital is at the moment attending to 23 active cases in the facility.
This was disclosed to journalists on Monday to debunk the rumour that the hospital has been closed down due to rise in cases of COVID-19 infection among health workers in the hospital.
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The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Talatu Angi in a statement on behalf of Management stated that the hospital is still open and delivering services, although four members of staff who were exposed to a patient who came in from Abuja for other medical conditions tested positive to the virus but are now in stable conditions and the entire Casualty Unit has been fumigated without any disruption to other Clinics.
Angi cautioned against rumour mongering saying such could prevent people from coming to the hospital to access medical care and prevent unnecessary death of intended patients.
She said, “the attention of the Management of Plateau State Specialist Hospital has been drawn to a publication with the headline “Plateau Hospital Shut as 17 staff test positive to COVID –
19” which have spurred discussions among the public. In view of the above, management wishes to state that the news is a misconception, as the hospital is still operational in accordance with the NCDC guidelines. The hospital has remained one of the front liners in the fight against COVID-19 as well as hope for the masses who need medical attention.
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“The public is encouraged to verify any news they hear or get concerning the hospital, as this misconceived information must have prevented
very sick people from visiting the hospital, which may have resulted to further medical complications or deaths. In the light of the above, Management wishes to intimate the public that
the hospital has treated and discharged 38 Corona Virus patients. They have since been reunited with their families and no deaths were recorded in the hospital.
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“As at 22nd June 2020, the hospital has 23 active cases of COVID-19 in the Isolation Ward. The patients are provided with all their needs and are comfortable as well as responding to medical treatment without symptoms./The Management wishes to further enjoin the public to pray continually for health
workers, who are at the forefront of the fight against corona virus. This will
encourage and boost our morale rather than sending negative signals that will
demoralize us.
“In view of some patients’ non-compliance to the guidelines on COVID -19, four of our staff have been infected by the virus. A patient who came from Abuja (unknown to us) was brought to the casualty unit for treatment unrelated to COVID-19. Unfortunately after attending to the patient, he presented the corona virus infection symptoms. His sample was swiftly taken for testing. The result came out positive. Our staff are stable and receiving treatment without any complications and other symptoms.
The entire Casualty Unit has been fumigated without any disruption to other clinics.”
