COVID-19: Fresh 15 Positive Cases Recorded At NAUTH, Nnewi
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, said it has so far sent 152 samples for COVID-19 tests, with 15 of the samples returning positive even as US-based medical professionals donate medical equipment.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the health institution, Professor Anthony Igwegbe disclosed the Covid-19 status at the hospital shortly after receiving the hospital’s share of medical items including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and disposables donated by a group of Igbo professionals resident in America known as 100 Igbos USA Incorporated.
The donation was for tertiary health institutions across the South East and Asaba Delta State distributed at the Gilbert Uzodike Auditorum NAUTH, Nnewi.
Prof. Igwegbe also disclosed that a staff of the NAUTH recently contracted the virus who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital’s isolation centre and would be discharged soon having been responding to treatment.
“Yes the most recent case we have in the hospital is a staff of the hospital, a cleaner in the hospital, who was admitted for COVID-19 and is being treated. The patient is responding very well to treatment and will soon be discharged.”
“We used to travel to Irrua Specialist Hospital Center Edo State, which was a problem, but with a testing center at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, we now have reduced movement of samples, just as having a reduced waiting time. One can now get his or her test within 48 hours, and that helps in diagnosis and management of the cases.”
“We are happy that these materials from our brothers in 100 Igbos USA Inc, came at the nick of time when we have exhausted the PPEs and masks we have. You will recall we have been having cases of COVID-19 here and each case you manage we spend a lot of the PPEs. It is the only problem we encounter in management of COVID-19, in the hospital.”
“Lack of consumables and having isolation are the major problems we have. However, the donation from our brothers in the 100 Igbos USA Inc, will go a long way in solving the problem of consumables at the moment.”
Meanwhile, former CMD of NAUTH, and Immediate past Board Chairman of University Teaching Hospital UNTH, Enugu, Prof Okechukwu Mbonu and the Director of Institute of Oncology Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Anambra State, Prof. Stanley Anyanwu, had called for assistance to tertiary health institutions in South East zone to ameliorate the problems face by health providers in tackling COVID-19 pandemic.
The duo who expressed satisfaction with the donation of 100 Igbos USA Inc. however urged well meaning Igbo groups and individuals to emulate the USA and Canada based group in think home philosophy.
Prof. Mbonu who was the Chairman on the occasion for the distribution of the medical items to the tertiary health institutions, regretted the report in the social media and newspapers of patients abandonment or sent away from several facilities in the South East without attention on COVID-19 suspicion.
He therefore, called on all the health facilities in the South East to develop Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that patients are properly screened, and no patient is sent away without attention.
