14 Abuja doctors, nurses go into isolation as three patients test positive
At least 10 doctors and nurses working at the Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja, have been asked to go into self-isolation after a patient who was being prepped for surgery tested positive for Covid-19, The PUNCH reports.
Another four doctors in Wuse District Hospital have also gone into isolation following exposure to two Covid-19 patients in the hospital, the Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory has said.
It was learnt that the patient at the Gwarinpa hospital had been admitted at the hospital for intestinal obstruction and was to be wheeled into the theatre last Thursday.
During his admission at the hospital, about 10 doctors and nurses on duty had contact with the patient directly or indirectly
However, before the surgery could begin, he started coughing profusely thereby causing a scare among health workers.
A health worker, who spoke to The PUNCH on the strict condition of anonymity, said, “A patient visited our hospital sometime last week and he was examined by a doctor. He was diagnosed with intestinal obstruction and was placed on admission pending a surgical operation. He was given drugs and fluid.
“He was supposed to do the surgery on Thursday but he started coughing profusely so we began to have suspicions. He was questioned about his health status and then he revealed later that his brother had just tested positive for COVID-19.
“He was isolated at the ward and a Covid-19 test was administered on him. The next day, his test came back positive. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has evacuated him while the hospital has been decontaminated.”
The official told The PUNCH that the hospital management asked about 10 doctors and nurses to go into self-isolation.
“The management has asked us to go into self-isolation. We will be tested later in the week,” she said.
Meanwhile doctors employed by the Federal Capital Territory last year are being owed salaries between three to seven months, the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT, has said.
The doctors also complained about suspicious deductions from the salaries of old doctors after they were registered on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
This is contained in a communiqué issued after a virtual council meeting on May 7, 2020 and signed by Dr Mustapha Ibrahim, the General Secretary of ARDFCTA.
The doctors said they would have embarked on a strike on May 1, 2020 but decided to put it on hold.
The document read in part, “The council noted with dismay the haphazard nature in which the April, 2020 salaries was paid by the IPPIS with no prior sensitisation or explanation despite the April 30 deadline for all matters connected therewith be resolved.
“Most newly employed members were still omitted in the payment of April, 2020 salaries bringing the total months owed them to between three-seven months. There is an established community transmission of COVID 19 in the FCT with four of our members already exposed following the confirmation of two cases at Wuse District Hospital.
“Despite Management’s assertion of provision of adequate PPE across all the general hospitals, it was noted by council that some of this PPE are still been hoarded by some units as members do not readily access these apparels when attending to suspected cases.
“Exposed members are subjected to a lot of psychological trauma during this period of self-isolation.”
The acting General Manager, General Manager, Hospital Services, FCT, Frank Alu, neither responded to phone calls nor a text message as of press time.
Copyright PUNCH.
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