By Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
Five persons were confirmed to have been tested positive to the coronavirus at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba Abeokuta, over the weekend.
Two staffers of the FMC, including a nurse and administrative staff are infected while three others were patients at the centre.
The Head, Public Relations Unit at the hospital, Mr Segun Orisajo who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Abeokuta, declared that the two staff earlier detected have been transferred to the Ogun State Isolation facility at Ikenne.
Similarly, Orisajo noted that another three patients were also tested positive, hereby making the total number of active cases in the hospital to five patients.
He narrated that the nurse contracted the virus in the cause of discharging her duty while the administrative staff came in contact with the disease on her trip to Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
He stated: “On Friday, the centre confirmed the two cases in a statement. Further to this, the centre hereby confirmed the case of another three patients whose test results just returned positive. So far, no doctor in the centre has tested positive for coronavirus contrary to some media reports.”
In another development, the Medical Director of FMC, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu during meeting with the representatives of the Unions at the centre on Saturday reassured them of their personal safety and protection.
He also calmed patients and members of the public not to panic as the management was fully alive to its responsibility.
He said: “Permit me to seize this opportunity to once again allay fears of our people out there including some members of staff that may have heard about the unfolding developments. To that, I say that there was practically nothing to worry about.
“We have for the umpteenth time said it loud and clear that this centre is fully prepared for this thing, and will not unnecessarily expose our staff to danger. We will ensure that all staff adhere to the basic precautionary measures in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
Prof. Musa-Olomu acknowledged the receipt of a consignment of some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Sunday as part of the determined efforts of his administration to ensure the safety of the staff while on duty. He added that the centre has been assured of another consignment next week.
He charged members of the public to disregard information being spread by some individuals aimed at creating panic, fear and anxiety in their minds. He also urged the sick and those in need of the centre’s services to approach the centre whenever the need arises.