Danger looms as medics protest lack of PPE on suspected COVID-19 death

…NYSC member forced to underplay condition as two face disciplinary panel

… Hospital mgt moves to punish ‘dissident’ medics 

By OBAJI AKPET  

Five medical laboratory scientists and some corps members in Nigeria are currently facing disciplinary panel in Abuja for discontinuing work to protest alleged inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in their unit.

The laboratory scientists who are the staff of the chemical pathology unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi-Abuja downed tools after a patient suspected to be COVID-19 positive died in their hospital.

Our reporter gathered that after the lab scientists protest, a corps member; Miracle Jerry was forced to replace them that night under the same conditions the agitating lab scientists had left.

Recall that recently Nigeria’s Health Minister had declared that over 40 health workers in Nigeria have tested positive of the novel coronavirus making medical practitioners the most exposed to the fight against the spread of the virus in Nigeria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that it has chronicled more than 1,200 COVID-19 positive cases across the country with Lagos and Abuja as the worst hit.

At the Abuja hospital, the five alleged dissident laboratory scientists and some corps members are currently facing disciplinary action with query already slammed on them. Interrogation on the last medic was concluded last Friday by a committee.

The affected lab scientists currently facing disciplinary action, our reporter gathered include Uzowulu Uche, Asuzu Chukwuemeka, Amba Osim, Steve Ihefor and Jessica Onyekweli. As at press time, our reporter could not ascertain the names of the two corps members facing panel with them.

According to one of the affected practitioners who pleaded anonymity, their ordeal started when Dr Ekpa, one of their doctors on call reporting to the medical lab scientists that day warned them to be careful in handling samples of a case that died that night with symptoms that matched that of COVID-19.

“She told us that the patient had a very high body temperature associated with hemorrhagic fever which could be caused by COVID19 or Lassa virus,” the source said.

After the five were tipped of the suspected case of COVID-19 in their facility and approached their head of department for protective equipment, the source said they had approached Ezekwesili Okechukwu, their head of department to bare their fears and to push for personal protective equipment. But three days later, enduring work without proper protection the practitioners had to down tools push for their needs to be met.

The incident of the suspected COVID-19 death at the Federal Medical Centre Jabi-Abuja happened on Sunday 22nd March 2020 while the medical doctors downed tools on 25th three days after their requests for adequate PPE were not met.

Before the protest, our reporter confirmed that despite being at a region designated to be one of the epicenters of COVID-19 in Nigeria the hospital had only basic nose masks and hand gloves, which the medics said were not enough in their protection; and so, they were pushing for proper disposable laboratory coats, scrub, M3 or N95 face mask, transparent helmet and medical footwear to help them stay protected while they went about their duties.

Claims unfounded – says Admin Director

When reached on phone, Dr Musa Sani, the Director of Administration of the medical centre although admitting that his HoD had intimated him of the medics’ reason for the protest that night he, however, denied knowledge that appropriate protective equipment was not provided them.

He also denied the death of any patient suspected to be Coronavirus in their medical facility as claimed by the medics but also admitted they had once recorded a case where a patient just returning from London showed symptoms to the disease but later came negative with results.

Although admitting that being in one of the epicenters of COVID-19 in Abuja they are expecting patients with symptoms of the virus, which they hospital has made plans to defer accordingly the director of administration claimed he did not consider laboratory scientists to be at risk.

Sani however assured that the discrepancies in the absence of PPE has since been filled as the hospital has taken delivery of the lacking equipment NCDC only recently.

But Dr Sani insisted the medical lab scientists will still have to face disciplinary action for abandoning their duties.

Although, it was not clear as at press time what exact disciplinary actions will be slammed the five and the two corps members if judged wanting, the authorities say they will invoke extant civil service laws against them.

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