By Lucky Isibor,
Edo State Government on Friday announced the discharge of five COVID-19 patients who had tested negative two times after receiving treatment from Isolation Centres in the state.
Governor Godwin Obaseki who announced the discharge of the five patients on his Twitter handle said it strengthened state government’s resolve to defeat the virus adding that is determined to roll out more measures to check the spread of the virus.
“I am pleased to announce that 5 of the confirmed cases in #EdoState have now tested negative twice for #Covid_19. They have thus been discharged. This bolsters our resolve to defeat this common enemy, as we roll out more measures to check the spread of #Covid_19,” he said.
Dr. Benson Okwara who is the head of Rapid Response Team for Coronavirus at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH confirmed to journalists in Benin City on phone that one of the patients was discharged from UBTH Isolation Centre.
“Yes one patient was discharged from here today and I think others come from Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, ISTH,” he said.
A source at ISTH confirmed that four patients of Covid-19 were released in the hospital. While one was discharged on Thursday last week, the other three were discharged yesterday, Thursday.
“They all tested negative twice and that is the condition for the release of any Covid-19 patient in Isolation. They have since been allowed to join their families,” said our source who sought anonymity.
In a related development, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has discharged its first COVID-19 patient from its Isolation Centre.
A statement from the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Joshua Uwaila Esq. said the 43-year-old patient was admitted on 3rd April, 2020 after he tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2.
The statement quoted Dr. Benson Okwara who is the head of Rapid Response Team for Coronavirus at the hospital saying, “the patient’s first negative test following resolution of symptoms was on 10th April, 2020, while a follow-up test on 14th April, 2020 also returned a negative result, thus qualifying him for discharge”.
He then encouraged members of the public who have symptoms of COVID-19 (such as cough, fever and shortness of breath) to get tested and, if positive, receive prompt treatment at any of the isolation centres.
Speaking further, Dr Okwara stated that a positive result is not death sentence.
The Management of the Hospital used the opportunity to appeal to members of the public to give correct information to healthcare personnel when they come to the hospital to seek care. Information on travel history (travelling abroad) or contact with a confirmed case should be disclosed so that tests can be done for the safety and wellbeing of all. Misinformation or withholding information regarding an epidemic can make the epidemic spread further. Besides, doing so is against the law.
The Management further appeals to members of the public to partner with the Hospital in its efforts towards continued improvement in healthcare delivery.
