Health workers in Cross River State under the aegis of Committee of Health Professionals in Cross River State on Covid-19 Response has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to investigate COVID-19 testing claims and results tendered so far in Cross River State and hold to account all those responsible for compromising testing in the State.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Agam E. Ayuk and Secretary, Dennis Ekpo and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Saturday.
The committee which comprises of Cross River State Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
The health workers said the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmation of five (5) cases of SARS-CoV-2 from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar (UCTH) has justified their continuous alarm of possible hospital and community transmission of COVID-19 in Cross River State.
The statement reads in full:
CWC-HPCRS/SG/2020/07/004
July 4, 2020
PRESS RELEASE BY THE COMMITTEE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN CROSS RIVER STATE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE IN THE STATE
PREAMBLE
The COVID-19 Central Working Committee of Health Professionals in Cross River State was constituted on 24th March, 2020, to co-ordinate activities among health professionals in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Its membership comprises of Cross River State Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
Arising from her Emergency Meeting held on Friday, July 3, 2020, the Committee of health professionals reviewed the issues bordering on COVID-19 response in the State and came up with the following observations and recommendations:
1, The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmation of five (5) cases of SARS-CoV-2 from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar (UCTH) has justified the continuous alarm raised by health professional associations in the State of possible hospital and community transmission of COVID-19 in Cross River State. For the avoidance of doubt and to dispel misinformation of the unsuspecting public, the five (5) samples that were sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) accredited molecular laboratory at Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki were delivered on Monday, June 29, 2020, following receipt of specimen collection kits from NCDC by UCTH on Sunday, June 28, 2020. The samples included two patients who were already on admission at the UCTH Isolation Centre, one patient who was billed for surgery and two Medical Doctors who had respiratory symptoms (both staff of UCTH).
2. The Committee of Health Professionals appreciates and commends the NCDC for the approval granted the UCTH, as an Independent Test Centre. This approval and the subsequent activation of a Test Centre will add fillip to the ease of access and authentication of test results. It will also up-scale COVID-19 testing in Cross River State.
3. The Committee calls on the Presidential Task Force through the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to investigate COVID-19 testing claims and results tendered so far in Cross River State and hold to account all those responsible for compromising testing in the State. We demand explanations on why of the well over 25 samples collected; the NCDC records only show eight (8) samples underwent PCR tests. This unethical practice has endangered the lives of health workers and more importantly, that of the populace.
4. The Committee calls on the NCDC to provide technical support to the Cross River State COVID-19 Task Force for efficient and effective surveillance and contact tracing, while calling on the State to commence contact tracing for the families and known contacts of confirmed cases.
5. Given the teeming populace presenting at the various hospitals for suspected COVID-19 needing either isolation and or treatment, the Committee urgently calls for the activation of the Adiabo Isolation Centre to attend to patients in urgent need of care.
6. We also urge the state government to scale-up the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers in all health facilities in the State.
7. The general public is hereby informed that COVID-19 is real and present in Cross River State. The Committee advises the public to neither panic nor stigmatize COVID-19 patients but rather take responsibility and steps to protect the vulnerable and adhere to the NCDC protocols/guidelines of regular hand washing, social/physical distancing, and use of facemasks to protect themselves. All who have symptoms are encouraged to present for COVID-19 test.
8. The Committee of health professionals remains committed to working with the Federal and State Government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Agam E. Ayuk Dennis Ekpo
Chairman Secretary
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