Tina Amanda
Chairman Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Simon Uriah, has debunked a social media claim that a suspected COVID-19 patient was admitted into a ward close to female general ward of the hospital.
Dr Uriah, in an interview with our correspondent Tina Amanda, revealed that the patient in question was kept in an isolated private ward away from other patients admitted in the hospital.
He noted that the alleged protest by medical personnels of the hospital as a result of the suspected patient was untrue.
“The patient was isolated from other patients in the hospital, he was not in any general ward as alleged and no staff of the hospital protested, where is the evidence that medical personnels protested? I was on duty Friday 22nd May, till close of work, Saturday 23rd May I was also at work and I did not see anyone protest.
“The said patient was duly isolated from other patients in a private ward, while awaiting the result of the COVID-19 test which is in keeping with NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health guidelines.
” This is the right thing for a reasonable hospital management to do in the face of the pandemic and this is part of the hospital protocol. Any well meaning person who has the interest of doctors, nurses and other health workers at heart should find a way to assist the hospital in which ever way they can, rather than run the hospital down.
“This is time to encourage health care workers who are in the forefront fighting against this pandemic.
“People should verify what they see on social media and stick to the truth alone. And, if people are in doubt let them come to the hospital to verify, the Teaching Hospital is not outside the Town of Port Harcourt. They should do a proper verification before making comments or supporting what somebody puts on social media”
Dr Uriah, however, affirmed that the Teaching Hospital is functioning fully, adding that patients are not been turned down by Doctors or other health workers of the hospital, as alleged by the video making round in social media.
“It is untrue that health workers of RSUTH turned down patients, the hospital is working well, you can visit the hospital to see things for your self that the hospital is not closed. The children department, the Emergency section, labour Ward’s are all working fully, even patients admitted in Ward’s are being attended to fully, despite the fact that today is public holiday”
He stressed further that the hospital have well trained specialists and professionals who are abreast with infection and control protocols.
Recall that on Friday 22nd May, a video went viral on social media, which alleged that Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, admitted a suspected COVID-19 patient in a ward close to that of the female general ward.
The maker of the video also claimed that health personnel in the hospital are being subjected to work under duress to attend to the patient who is perceived to be an important person in Rivers State government.
The video further alleged that health workers of RSUTH protested against the behaviour of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Friday Aaron for subjecting them to attend to the suspected COVID-19 patient in the hospital, rather than take the patient to an Isolation Centre.
