The medical doctors under isolation in Central Hospital, Agbor who had contact with the COVID-19 index case in Agbor, Ika Weekly Newspaper gathered, have been neglected by the Government and hospital management. Their situation could well be described as “Casualties of War.” And with the look of things, it seems they have been left to die for no fault of theirs.
Ika Weekly reporter gathered that the doctors were not even formally informed that they were to be isolated, but heard about it from their colleagues as it was revealed that some of them were on their way to work when they got the information were thereafter, quarantined.
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On further investigation, it was revealed that since the doctors went into isolation, not a single meal was brought to them, not even a bag of sachet water from the government or the Hospital Management, neither were prophylasis (drug meant for prevention) provided. A source who was accustomed to General hospital Ughelli noted that when a similar thing happened there, the doctors under isolation were properly taken care of, and she wondered why Agbor which is a Central hospital and ten times bigger than Ughelli cannot take care of their staff.
The source said she learnt the doctors in isolation put a call across to the Medical Director (MD) of the hospital, and he told them that he was not the government. She said she wondered why the hospital management that generates revenue internally could not do anything to alleviate the suffering of their doctors.
Our correspondent further gathered that the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) visited them and promised them that she will present their matter to the authorities, but up till the time of this report, nothing has come out of the visit.
However, it is appalling for medical practitioners who are at the forefront in the fight against COVID -19 to be treated this way. What does it take for the government to provide food medicare for the doctors who risk their lives every day to save others? This inhumane treatment no doubt, will affect their attitude to work when they eventually survive this trauma.
Ika Weekly gathered that since the doctors went into isolation, only Dr. Donald Peterson has taken it upon himself to provide meals for them and sometimes the doctors appeal to their colleagues for assistance; a situation which is to say the least, very appalling.
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It was also discovered that the isolated doctors who first had contact with the index case three days before he was admitted, have not been tested. But, patients who were in the same ward with the patient have all been tested and the government has gone on air to say everything is in control.
Meanwhile, the index case in Agbor, a 20 year old Hausa man who sells fruit at Edike street, whose case led to the isolation of the doctors has been reported dead. According to information reaching us, he died at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
As at the time of filing this report, attempt to reach the Medical Director Agbor Central Hospital proved abortive as he was said not to be on sit.
REPORTED BY NICHOLAS EBEGBONI