There was high tension at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, COOUTH, Amaku Awka, Anambra State, following a suspected case of lassa fever reported in the hospital.

It was gathered that fear of getting infected by the dreaded disease gripped patients and staff of the hospital when a lassa fever patient was reportedly admitted in the hospital.

Our correspondent learnt that jittery patients were forced to distance themselves from the apartment where the lady patient was kept as a result of the unexpected panic.

Reacting on the development, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Lawrence Ikeako, said they had a lady patient that was admitted on Sunday night, and was immediately informed by his staff of the suspicion.

“Actually we had a lady patient that was admitted on the night of Sunday and on Monday morning the staff, on suspicion that she may be a patient of lassa fever, informed me.

“We trained our staff in such a way that when they have suspicion of serious cases they have to alert the authority which they promptly did on admission of the patient.

“So we had to notify the Ministry of Health and the Ministry came with her ambulance and took the patient to a Federal Government specialist medical laboratory at Irua in Edo state, where she was confirmed to be a lassa fever patient.

“It is not that we don’t have our own ambulance, we have ours provided by His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano but just that the Health Ministry decided to evacuate the patient with theirs,” he stated.

Dr. Ikeako, who acknowledged the support of the governor towards surmounting most of their teething problems, said the hospital recently received additional funds from him to help in recruiting staff.

“We are nurturing a very young teaching hospital, we have graduated first and second sets of medical doctors. In five years, we have recorded gigantic stride through our able governor who always comes to our financial needs whenever called upon.

“We have started the residency training, specialist training and this is as a result of approval and accreditations made possible by the Governor,” he said. (Daily Trust)

Update news