There is palpable apprehension over the high rate of spread of Covid-19 at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State; as six persons have been reported dead from the virus, while eight doctors of the hospital tested positive.
The situation at the hospital remains frightening with the accident and emergency ward shut down over fear of the further spread of the disease.
It was gathered that the eight infected doctors have been isolated, and the disease prevention protocol intensified in the centre.
Dr Victor Osiatuma, head of the hospital management confirmed to journalists that the pandemic has affected the staff strength of the facility, especially the junior workers who assist doctors in their duties.
According to Osiatuma, “We have problems in our hospital here in Asaba as eight doctors from family medicine unit have tested positive. Some others at the Neo-Natal unit have been seriously affected and they are all in isolation centre.
“The major issue now is that our oxygen unit is not functioning, even though the affected doctors are responding to treatments.”
Speaking further, he said: “Our isolation centres are filled up with just two beds and we have shut down the accident and emergency ward of the hospital following the increasing cases of COVID-19.
“Some patients who were admitted into A & E wards tested positive to the virus and they were discharged, and we are told that they are no more. We have conducted tests on our doctors who were exposed to be sure they were not infected and while we await the results, they have been isolated.”
On the hospital’s level of preparedness to handle the increasing cases of COVID-19 pandemic, Osiatuma said they need substantial support from both the state and federal governments as well as public-spirited individuals.
He said: “We need all the support; FMC Asaba is completely in trouble over COVID-19 pandemic. We need all the support we can get to fight the situation. We need people to donate to us consumables like hand sanitisers, face masks and medical kits for us to work with.”
He urged members of the public to take the issue seriously, saying that COVID-19 is real and can kill if not well managed.