Tuesday, May 12, 2020

I'm Not Aware Of 50 UUTH Staff Waiting Covid-19 Test - A'Ibom Healy Commissioner

Five Covid19 positive patients including a nursing mother have been given a clean bill of health and discharged in Uyo, Tuesday after being confirmed negative to the dreaded virus by the Nigerian Center for Diseases Control, NCDC.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen at the Ibom Specialist Hospital shortly after their discharge said one of the discharged survivors was a medical worker with the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

Flanked by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem and Dr. Martins Akpan of the Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr. Ukpong explained that the nursing mother had to be given special treatment at home since she had a 7months baby and two infants ages two and three respectively in her care.

“I commend Governor Emmanuel for putting in place a means through which we were able to administer medical care to that woman because there was no way we could have brought her and three children into this facility, since none of the children had tested positive.

“Her samples have now come out negative and she has also been discharged along with the other four cases”

On the reported case of 50 medical workers awaiting testing at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Ukpong maintained that, “I am not aware of such number of people lining up for testing at UUTH.

“The one we have actually profiled and met the criteria for testing was among those discharged today, a staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital".

“Yesterday (Monday) I was at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to commission an isolation ward”, he stated, adding that, he has frequent interactions with the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital and any such development had not been brought before him.

On contact tracing, the Commissioner disclosed that the state has so far done 458 contact tracing, indicating about 99.1% attainment as acknowledged by NCDC.
Fielding questions from reporters on some of the concerns raised on the testing modalities and other issues, Dr. Ukpong stated "Scientifically, there are criteria for Covid19 testing, and we follow the criteria as set out by NCDC.

He said the Governor Emmanuel has performed very well in the fight against the disease, especially judging from the huge number of the index cases and the gradual decline in the numbers, but urged Akwa Ibom people to continue observing the laid down precautionary measures in order to check the spread of disease in the state.

Also speaking, the CMD of Ibom Specialist Hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Ekanem commended the facilities and response strategy provided by the Akwa Ibom State government in preventing the spread of Covid19 pandemic in the state, and maintained that the hospital management was very satisfied with the sincerity of the government.

President Buhari Appoints New Chief Of Staff State

President Muhammadu Buhari today appointed a new Chief of Staff in the person of Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari following the demise of the former CoS, Mallam Abba Kyari.

Prof. Gambari, CFR who was born on November 24, 1944 and hails from Kwara State is the former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

He attended King’s College, Lagos. Proceeded to London School of Economics where he obtained his B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with specialty in International Relations.

He later obtained his M.A. (1970) and Ph. D. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, USA in Political Science /International Relations.

The Ilorin prince and uncle to the present Emir of Ilorin is a revered scholar and diplomat who has garnered experience and held high profile positions.

Following his track records in leadership, the former governor of Kwara State, AbdulFatah Ahmad on March 4, 2013 named him the pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University.

Also, he was the Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985.
Although the appointment of Gambari is yet to be made official by Presidency but sources say he was picked after a rigourous selection process by the Presidency.

He is to resume work on Wednesday after meeting with President Buhari earlier today at the State house according to report.
Congratulations Sir!