Staff of the Pathology Department of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri may have deserted their department following the recent contracting of the COVID-19 by one of their staff.
Our correspondent gathered that the management of the Centre directed the shut down of the department to forestall further spread of the virus.
The new COVID-19 case recorded by the hospital was being whispered in hush tones until the Chief Medical Director of the FMC, Owerri, Dr. K. I. Achigbu issued a statement updating the hospital community on the COVID-19 status of the Centre.
His statement read in part: “I wish to bring to the notice of the hospital community that a staff in our Histopathology department tested positive to COVID 19. He is currently in isolation and receiving treatment.
“Active case finding and follow up of close contacts has commenced and staff of the pathology department are currently being screened.
“On account of this development the department will temporarily shut down for a week for fumigation and disinfection. However, the morgue section and mortuary Services remain open.”
The Medical Director stated that the hospital Infection Prevention Committee (IPC) is upscaling enforcement of preventive and screening processes right from the hospital entrance gate.
Achigbu however argued that the exposure and infection did not take place in the FMC Owerri.
“While we do not believe the index exposure and infection took place in the Centre, Management however, is being proactive to safeguard the health of every staff”, he said.
Accordingly, the Medical Director advised staff to ensure strict adherence to the hospital safety protocol as well as universally applicable COVID-19 prevention strategies.
