The authorities of Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta have re-opened the Accident and Emergency unit to the public.
The spokesperson of the Centre, Segun Orisajo, said the unit was temporarily shut down on Saturday, 2nd May, 2020 to allow for a thorough decontamination following the death of a COVID-19 positive patient in the complex.
Great Achiever Magazine reports that some patients were seen on Monday, being attended to by the Unit’s health care providers.
The Medical Director was equally at the facility on Monday, to ensure smooth discharge of services to the patients.
However unlike before, some new safety measures have been introduced for both the staff and patients.
These include the institution of an algorithm/protocol for the unit staff before admitting any patient into the Accident and Emergency unit.
Similarly, a triaging system has been put in place to identify the level of exposure and suspicion of all patients.
A Senior Medical Officer in the unit said “under the new arrangement, no patient can come and move straight into the A&E unit without being fully assessed whether to go in or be attended to elsewhere within the hospital facilities.”
While addressing the staff of the unit, the Medical Director, Prof. Musa-Olomu reassured them of Management’s concern for their safety.
Prof Musa-Olomu said: “I wish to appreciate you and salute your courage as front liners in the care of our patients.
” Let me assure you again that Management is fully aware of the risks of this job and that is why we are decisive in our efforts at ensuring that you’re all protected.
“You will recall that between last week and this morning, we had received two consignments of Personnal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
“I have been assured that stock will be replenished before we exhaust the supply.”
The Medical Director urged the staff and patients to close their ears to the lies from those agents of progress who had sold themselves to creating panic and anxiety among staff and the public.
Some of the patients spoke to express gratitude to the Management for the early reopening of the unit.
