EBOLA MIRACLE: Nigerian doctor survives …Discharged 2
BY AZOMA CHIKWE AND JOB OSAZUWA ON AUGUST 17, 2014 · COVER
■ Four others almost fully recovered –Health Minister
The first Nigerian who tested positive to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
has recovered from the virus and consequently been certified fit and
discharged, the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu told newsmen
yesterday in Lagos.
She was one of the doctors who had primary
contact with the late Liberian Patrick Sawyer while attending to the
deceased. Recall that people who had primary contact with late Sawyer,
including medics at First Consultant Hospital, Lagos were quarantined
immediately Sawyer tested positive to Ebola virus infection.
The
Minister explained that the medical experts at the isolation centre
where she was admitted alongside others, have medically monitored the
patient, and having fully satisfied with her recovery then discharged
her home.
“The doctor is safe and free with no risk of infecting
others and had been discharged to go back to her family. In fact, She
is even safer than most people on the street who may not know that they
have one symptom or the other. Her immunity is boosted and she was
closely monitored before being discharged. The experts would have
discharged her all this while but had to observe her very well because
of the nature of the disease,” the Minister said.
He also said
that four others similarly under medical management at the isolation
centre were now almost fully recovered from the disease. He also said
the other 189 persons, who had secondary contact, were still under
surveillance in Lagos while additional six are in Enugu.
Towards arresting further spread of the disease, the Minister disclosed
that patients under treatment were moved to the new 40-bed capacity
isolation ward provided by the Lagos State Government at Mainland
Hospital, Yaba.
However, the experimental drug, Nano Silver,
could not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics
Code. Consequently, the National Health Research Ethics Committee
withheld approval for it.
Chukwu stated that the experimental
drug was made available to the Emergency Operation Centre in Lagos, but
was not administered to any patient while awaiting clearance by the
Committee.
“However, Chukwu added, “other candidate drugs are
currently being evaluated by the Treatment Research Group for EVD. As
soon as any of the experimental drugs is cleared by the Committee and is
made available, we shall use it in the treatment regime subject to the
informed consent of the patient.”
So far, out of the 12 people who tested positive, he said four people have died from the dreaded disease.
On the sack of resident doctors, Chukwu confirmed that the suspension
is only temporal and that the Federal Government is considering how it
can further improve the health care sector.
“I believe the
suspension is only temporary, the government is looking at how the
health care system can be improved. But please note that the suspension
affects only federal-owned hospitals, it is not extended to other state
hospitals.”
Recall that that there had been allegations by
doctors that the health insurance scheme offered by the federal
government had not yet been put in place. The doctors also alleged that
health worker who volunteered had not been provided with health
insurance cover by the Federal Government.
Responding to this
allegation, Prof Chukwu acknowledged that the Federal Government had
indeed not commenced the provisions of insurance policy cover but noted
that the Lagos State government has started issuing the insurance
policy to doctors in its employ.
“We are still working on the
paper works; when it is ready we would definitely give it out. But we
still need more volunteers as health workers are little and they can’t
handle the job alone,” he said.
he insurance policy to doctors in its employ.