Since El-Comfort hospital has been declared and certified by the Delta State Ministry of Health and National Centre for Disease and Control, the hospital has been experiencing increased patronage from patients, the Medical Director (MD) of the hospital, Dr. Ifeanyi Ben Ajufoh has said.
Dr. Ajufoh noted that the index case of late Dr. Okeke who was rushed to El-Comfort Hospital was within the shortest time referred to Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, the nearest tertiary hospital with intensive care unit, pointing out “at NAUTH he manifested symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever necessitating his blood testing at Specialist Virology Laboratory, Iruah, Edo State where he was confirmed Lassa fever positive”.
The MD who stated this Monday during a press briefing in Asaba, noted that in January 2016 a woman came from Anambra State to a private hospital in Asaba for treatment, with no improvement in her health, was later taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, where she died of Lassa Fever, adding that the hospital and Doctors that attended to her were not made spectacles or objects of lies by rumour mongers.
Although, this was not the first time the epidemic was reported in state, El-Comfort where the late deceased was first admitted attracted media attention as it was alleged that it was the MD who died.
Investigations further revealed that the Delta State Ministry of Health through the state Epidemiologist and disease surveillance officer immediately activated the WHO Lassa Fever containment and management protocol, thus fumigating and decontaminating all facilities that hosted the late Dr. Okeke.
According to sources until his death, Dr. Okeke lived and practiced as a medical Doctor in Asaba for over 10 years.
It was gathered that after the 21 days requirement of the surveillance on persons who have contact with the deceased, “El-Comfort Hospital has not experience any case of death or infection of Doctors, Nurses and staff of the noble hospital”, Dr. Ajufoh noted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ajufoh appealed to the President Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government to make the bailout funds for the health sector in the country available to enable them carry out their medical jobs effectively, stressing that health care is not something that is cheap anywhere in the world which should be given attention.
Apprehension As Ritualists Invades Delta Community
There is pandemonium in Asaba and Okpanam, a suburb of the Delta State capital over the activities of men of the underworld over the ways and manners the cases of missing children are reported.
A case in point was that of a 7-year old who was whisked from his parents’ home in Umuomake in Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area of Delta State.
According to sources, the boy was allegedly captured in front of the compound by unknown persons suspected to be ritualists while playing.
It was further alleged that after the abductors had gone, the parents began searching for the boy.
In spite of the alarm by the parents of the abducted boy, there was no trace of the boy’s whereabouts.
In another development, a 9-year old boy was reported missing at Inyanga market, Okpanam where the mother has a shop where she sells consumable items like baked beans.
Impeccable sources said the mother of the kidnapped boy was busy attending to the suspected abductors who claimed to be patronizing her items, requested that the mother’s permit to send the son on an errand to buy biscuits.
Eyewitnesses said, there was panic by the mother after some minutes when she waited for the son to no avail before she decided to raise alarm which attracted the attention of passers-by.
This became an unexplainable mystery to the mother over the disappearance of the child.
Also gathered was that as soon as the alarm was raised, the abductors claimed to be patronizing the mother absconded into the tin air which led to their suspicion.
However, some persons were arrested which includes the leader of the gang popularly known as ‘Madam Cash’ who parades herself as a sand supplier in Okpanam and Asaba metropolis.
According to sources, Madam Cash who hails from the Eastern part of the country, years back was arrested for child trafficking and she allegedly gave the police N2.5 million to be exonerated.
Further sources closed to the family informed the press that though they have left their faith in God, investigations are still on by the police to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.
Contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Celestina Kalu said “the prime culprit is in our custody and it is not true that she gave the police money to clear herself”.
