COVID-19 kills 1 physiotherapist, 4 test positive as 16 others go into isolation

The National President of Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), Dr Rufai Yusuf Ahmad has revealed that four of its members had tested positive for coronavirus in 4 states across the federation.

He disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano, revealing that the society had already lost one member in Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom state.

“It is very important to bring to the fore the occupational hazard which frontline health professionals are exposed in the ongoing fight against the covid-19 pandemic. It is unfortunate that, the number of health professionals that have contracted the novel coronavirus keeps surging and there is a need to do more to protect them,” said the national president.

He stressed that, report reaching the society revealed that four Physiotherapists have contracted Covid-19 while discharging their duties, with first incident in Bauchi, Kano, Lagos and Jigawa respectively.

He added that, 16 physiotherapists that came in contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 have gone into self-isolation across the country with one death of a Physiotherapist/Medical doctor in Uyo state some weeks ago.

“NSP hereby call on the government, at all levels as well as private healthcare facilities to provide adequate and appropriate PPE for physiotherapists and other frontline health professionals in their employ, ” he said.