COVID-19: Testing is a challenge in Kogi State - NMA Chairman

Doctors in Zimbabwe with face masks

Doctors in Zimbabwe

Doctors attending to Coronavirus patient

By Richard Elesho

The end to the controversy surrounding the COVID-19 status of kogi State does not seem to be in sight, as Dr. Kabir Zubair, Chairman, of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in the State has disclosed that although no confirmed case has been recorded in the State, a number of suspected cases of the disease have been attended to at the Federal Medical Center Lokoja.

He, however, noted that testing of the suspected cases remains a major challenge in the State.

He noted that members of Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) are among the first to attend to these patients and as such they might be exposed to the highly contagious COVID-19.

Dr Zubair stated this on Thursday while responding to newsmen enquiry on his reaction to the report of the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC that only one testing sample have been sent in for checking by the state which returned negative.

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He said that the challenge of not testing enough had led to agitation from members of the Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) as they are among the first to attend to suspected cases, a number of which have been received at the Federal Medical centre, Lokoja in recent times.

“Although, no confirmed case has been reported in Kogi State, till date, but a number of suspected cases have been attended to at FMC Lokoja and members of ARD are among the first to attend to these patients and as such they might be exposed to the highly contagious COVID-19.” Kabir stated

The chairman said that “ARD is an affiliate of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and they are among the most exposed health care workers to patients with suspected COVID-19 in the hospital settings.

”The NMA is aware that they have become agitated and apprehensive in the last few months due to community spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

 

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