15 doctors out of 139 doctors working in Nasarawa State Government Hospitals have tested positive to COVID-19.
This was disclosed by the Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia, Dr Ikrama Hassan.
He said in Lafia that, ” The claim by the Association of Residents Doctors in the state that 35 doctors tested positive for COVID-19 is wrong, as only 15 have been confirmed.
” I am appealing to them not to embark on a strike action to assist the society, but to dialogue on their demands. If three persons test positive in a particular department, what is the justification for closing down other departments that have no single affected personnel.
“Personal Protective Equipments, ( PPE ) have been provided by the hospital, the closure of service delivery by Resident Doctors in the midst of second wave of the pandemic had no rational and scientific basis, therefore unacceptable.” Dr Hassan Ikrima said.
Similarly, last week, Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed that 50 people tested positive to COVID-19 on Sunday alone in the State.
He made the disclosure at a meeting involving all the chairmen of 13 Local Government Chairmen and stakeholders.
According to him, ” With the return of COVID-19 infection, the state recorded 50 cases of the dreaded virus ( Sunday) which is the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic.
” I am calling on the people of the state to renew their commitment to observing all protocols put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.” He said.
However, at the end of December last year, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State and Chairman of COVID-19 Commitee, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, disclosed that 15 persons had died from COVID-19.
According to him, ” As at Tuesday December 22, the state has discharged 668 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 26 under home care and 3 in isolation.
“85% of the cases are found in Karu, Keffi and Lafia local government areas, while the rest are found in the remaining 10 councils of the state.” He said.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that Dr Rebecca Isaac Umaru, Former Provost of College of Education Akwanga died of the virus on Monday, December 21.
He also said Dr Janet Angbazo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism was tested positive of the virus and currently on isolation.
According to him, a member of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Lafia was tested positive.
He said, “the second wave of the pandemic is worrisome, because the virus has become more violent than the previous one.
Dr Akabe said that from statistics available to the government, even younger people are now vulnerable to the virus as it was more aggressive than before.
He therefore urged the public to always wear their face masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands regularly to curtail the spread of the virus.
