Reference to the news going round the social media that some hoodloms purportedly attacked the UNIOSUN TEACHING HOSPITAL last week Thursday destroying properties and distrupting it’s services, the true situation was as follows:
In line with COVID-19 protocols, patients suspected to be having the infection are kept away from other patients and admitted to an holding bay in the hospital where they are taken care of while being investigated.
Two of the patients who were admitted in to the Holding Bay unfortunately died before the results of COVID-19 was released which showed they were positive for the infection.
The relations of the patients wanted to collect the corpses immediately but were told that the NCDC protocols guiding release of COVID-19 dead victims must be followed.
This did not go well with the victim’s relations and friends who became restive and destructive. Security agents later intervened and the situation was eventually brought under control with the relations agreeing with the guidelines.
As much as the actions of the relations are condemnable, it was not true that life-support machines of some patients in the Accident and Emergency section of the hospital were removed by the ill informed miscreants.
We need to state unequivocally that, normally patients who die from COVID infection must be buried by the COVID team to avoid spread and infection of other members of the public. No patients had their life support machines removed or died as a result of the unfortunate incident.
The Management of UNIOSUN TEACHING HOSPITAL Osogbo wishes to assure the general public and all our patients that the hospital will strictly adhere to all COVID-19 protocols in accepting and managing its patients.
We hereby implore the public to remain safe and take responsibility for their wellbeing and good health by complying with all COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
Ayodele ADEYEMO is the Public Relations Officer, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
