*as Late Provost’s family demands independent autopsy
From Chuks Collins, Awka
Meanwhile the family of the deceased Provost, Prof Udemezue has insisted on an independent test on the late Professor’s sample.
The family’s spokesperson, Orji Udemezue who addressed journalists alongside the family head -Chief Ogochukwu Udemezue, Kennedy Udemezue and Evangelist Chidi Udemezue said the unfortunate incident has since thrown the family in darkness.
They insisted to be furnished with “a definite information about what happened to him.
“Prof. Udemezue was alleged to have died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi. The news has thrown the family into a deep shock because we didn’t hear anything about his sickness before his death was announced.
“We are saddened by the rumor making the rounds that our brother and father died of Covid 19. The family has been cautious since we heard of this, the family is well aware of Covid 19 issues and we know that millions of people have been infected and thousands died all over the world. We are aware that Covid-19 is not a taboo or death sentence.
“It is shocking that NAUTH has no facility for Covid-19 testing. We know that many states in the country cannot even boast of having testing facilities. It is a shock to us that days after the death of Prof Udemezue, the result of his Covid-19 status has not been made available to the family. This is something that should not take more than fifteen minutes to get done.
“It may interest the members of the public to know that Prof Udemezue before his death demanded for his Covid 19 status, which was not made available. We are beginning to suspect foul play in the whole episode and we demand clarification from NAUTH”, he stressed.
The spokesperson also said that the management of the hospital when contacted said they were having conflicting results or confusing results noting that he never knew that testing for Covid-19 has become so complex.
In the light of this scenario, the family has therefore called for an independent medical examination of his remains to unravel what really cause Professor’s sudden death.
But the CMD of NAUTH, Prof Igwegbe said the result was not officially out and urged them to remain calm and cautious while awaiting the result.
Prof Igwegbe lamented the absence of Covid-19 test centres in Anambra state which has made the diagnosis and management of Covid-19 cases somewhat delayed and difficult as samples from the state and other states within the South East and South-South geopolitical zones are waiting for days there. These include Edo, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states.
He pointed out that the Prof Udemezue’s sample has been at the Irrua Specialist General Hospital, Edo State and that the NAUTH Laboratory Scientist was waiting to return with the test result.
He described his demise as painful to the entire NAUTH community and consoled all especially his family. But urged all to remain calm.
