The Bayelsa Government on Saturday received a 48-bed Isolation Centre to boost the total capacity at the state-owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri to over 100.

The facility donated by the private sector led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to increase capacity in the state compliments another 70-bed facility donated by Chevron and a 20-bed isolation ward at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.

The intervention by CACOVID compliments an existing 60-bed capacity isolation centre built by the Bayelsa Government.

Dr Nathaniel Akpoku, Co-Chairman of the Bayelsa Task Force on COVID-19, applauded the coalition promoted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their thoughtful intervention to strengthen the capacity of the public health system in Bayelsa.

He noted that the centre would improve care provided to patients infected with the corona virus and assured that medical personnel managing COVID-19 cases would put the facility to good use.

He said that Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, who chairs the COVID-19 Task Force in the state, as well as the COVID-19 patients, appreciates the support from the coalition at this time when the COVID-19 pandemic was ravaging the world.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of NDUTH, Prof Dimie Ongoin, noted that the hospital management was encouraged by the additional capacity which would position the hospital to manage more cases.

Dr Johnbull Jumbo, Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee of the NDUTH, noted that the intervention was timely as the existing facility was getting over stretched as the new facility was a welcome relief.

He explained that the new facility which is an annex to the main isolation centre was already put to use as some eight patients were already receiving care adding that there were many suspected cases awaiting test results by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

In his speech, Mr. Flint Kakiri, a representative of CA-COVID, applauded the efforts of the Bayelsa Government in the fight against COVID-19.

Kakiri said that the Diri administration granted approvals promptly to facilitate the collaboration with the CACOVID to increase isolation capacity at the NDUTH to over 100.

He said that the CACOVID provided hospital beds and beddings, medical equipment, medical consumables and Personal Protective Equipment for Health workers in the intervention.

•PHOTO: Dr Nathaniel Akpoku, Perm Sec, Bayelsa State Ministry of Health and Co-Chairman, Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force, cutting the tape to inaugurate an Isolation Centre at Niger Delta Teaching Hospital (NDUTH). On the right is Mr Flint Kakiri, Representative of COCAVID, donors of the facility, while on the left is Prof. Dimie Ogoin, Chief Medical Director of NDUTH

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