7 health workers test positive for COVID-19 at Ilorin General Hospital
•Hospital new epicentre of coronavirus in Kwara – source
•Kwara govt refuses to shut down facility despite workers’ agitations
There were palpable tension among staffers of the Kwara State General Hospital, Ilorin, after about seven health officials at the hospital tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
THE INFORMANT247 learnt two doctors, four nurses and a ward attendant were infected, causing panic among the workers.
An official of the hospital, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, disclosed that health workers in the hospitals have been agitating for the hospital to be shut down and all workers tested.
The source said that the number of infected staffers might be more than the reported figure, and that transmission may have been established amongst the health workers in the hospital as a result of non adherence to safety protocols, and non availability and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
It was gathered that the hospital may have become the new epicentre of the virus in the State.
The source said, “There may be a need to to test all the staff of the hospital for COVID-19 to ascertain the safety of the hospital for public use. Meanwhile, a large number of the hospital staff are under self isolation.”
Another source at the hospital told THE INFORMANT247 on Friday that the nurses in the hospital are agitating for the closure of the entire hospital until further notice.
“This agitation and request has been rebuffed by officials of the Hospital Management Bureau and State Ministry of Health who are worried about the embarrassment this would cause the State Government,” the official added.
Recall that THE INFORMANT247 had earlier reported two patients who are on admission at the Hospital tested positive for the virus which made the hospital management promptly shut down some wards and units.
Several efforts to reach the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. AbdulKadir Ahmed, proved abortive as his number was not reachable.
