COVID-19: Alarm over mysterious deaths in Enugu, Ebonyi

Enugu State Government has expressed concern over increasing incidences of mysterious deaths across the state.
Prof. Emmanuel Ejim, the Chairman, COVID-19 Expert Medical Advisory Committee on De-escalation of the Outbreak, disclosed this on Monday during its maiden press briefing in Enugu.
Ejim said that the foregoing had necessitated the need for residents of the state to conduct personal risk assessment based on the possibility of being affected by COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is very much in the state in spite of the erroneous belief in some quarters that the virus is a scam, most of the deaths recorded in parts of the state are related to COVID-19.
“There is COVID-19 in Enugu State. The death rate is rising everyday and they call it malaria but it is not malaria. The outbreak is a serious concern,” he said.
He said that the death rate in the state is such that about three or four persons die daily at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Isolation Centre.
Ejim said that it had become imperative for the state government to invest in additional laboratories to increase the capacity and number of tests conducted in the state.
He said that it was also imperative to improve the health system preparedness in the private sector in order to boost the crusade against the pandemic.
He said that it was sad that the media had not done enough to project COVID-19 related incidences and fatalities in the state, adding that no fewer than 70 health workers had been affected by the virus.
“Enugu State has recorded 258 confirmed cases as at June 27, 2020 of which over 70 are health workers. The media do not seem to be telling people of what is going on in the state,” he said.
He appealed to relevant authorities to allow the media access to the isolation centres in the state to highlight the condition of patients there.
Ejim said that residents of the state would begin to appreciate the enormity of the challenge and risks posed by COVID-19 if such things were highlighted in the media.
He said that the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 prompted the state governor to seek a broader and deeper collaboration with experts on how to de-escalate the outbreak.
He said that the state government had made significant investments in strengthening its response to COVID-19 as seen in the provision of treatment and isolation facilities for case management.
“In spite of these commendable efforts, there seems to be an escalation of transmission and spread of the virus in the state, raising a lot of concern amongst key stakeholders,” Ejim said.
Also, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has described the death of three health workers due to COVID-19 and infection of 24 others in the state as frightening.
Umahi made the declaration on Monday in Abakaliki during a meeting with the state COVID-19 response committee, officials of World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders.
He attributed the development to carelessness and nonchalant attitude of the public toward the pandemic.
The governor said that the people should learn to take responsible action to stop further spread of the virus in the state.
“You will see a husband that is infected with COVID-19 feeling that its the time to increase his love life with his wife and vice versa.
“Our people should know that no matter how much you love your wife or children, on the judgment day you will not answer for them,” he said.
Umahi also regretted that despite the alarming increase of the infection in the state, people still have wrong notion about the disease.
“People say on the social media that we upload the numbers to get money but nobody has given me ‘one kobo’ except donations from individuals and the Federal Government such as rice.
“Every fund spent on this COVID-19 fight is uploaded into the state government’s website and is disbursed through committees,” he said.
The  governor noted that with the manifestation community transmission, the state has to change tactics, to effectively check the situation.
“I am putting forward several recommendations for your consideration which include: concerted efforts to complete renovation of our general hospitals and embarking on house to house monitoring of people who show COVID-19 signs.
“We should daily identify them in our communities and send them to isolation centres through an effective community identification programme,” he said.
Umahi said government has approved N105 million for the purchase of some equipment such as oxygen and blood pressure monitor for the general hospitals at Ikwo, Ishiellu and Onicha LGAs.
“We can also procure ultra sound, X-ray machines among others and station them at each of the three senatorial zones while  the committee should meet and recommend the equipment we should purchase,” Umahi said.
Dr Daniel Umezurike, Commissioner for Health, said that despite the surge in the disease’s infection rate, the governor and all stakeholders should be commended for the efforts to mitigate the disease.
“We are one of the highest testing states in the country and stayed two months before recording the first case after the index case was reported in the country.
“We have tested 3, 369 samples and despite recording a total of 503 cases, we have effectively managed and discharged 111 cases after they tested negative,” he said.
Dr Emeka Ogah, the Chief Medical Director, Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, suggested that aside the house to house monitoring, contact tracing mechanisms should be improved.
WHO officials and other stakeholders also offered suggestions on ways to curtail the spread of the virus and management  of reported cases in the state.