In one fell swoop, Borno govt discharges 135 COVID-19 patients

The Borno State Government on Friday discharged 135 COVID-19 patients from isolation centres.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, who disclosed this to newsmen, said that COVID-19 patients were discharged after testing negative to the virus twice.

Kadafur, who is also the Chairman, Committee on Response and Prevention of COVID-19, described the development as a huge success in the fight against COVID-19 in the state.

He attributed the successes recorded so far to the efforts of the task force committee and health workers, who put in their best within the past weeks in containing the pandemic.

He reiterated the commitment of the government toward improving the welfare of the frontline workers who remained in the forefront in preventing the spread of the virus.

“The tremendous achievement made the state to record few cases in the past weeks.

“For those still at the isolation centre, we promise to improve on their welfare and support them to recover fully,” he said.

Kadafur therefore advised the people to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 preventive protocols to mitigate and completely eradicate the virus in the state.

Also speaking, Professor Ali Kwajafa, the Chairman, Borno State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said that a total of 40 health workers who tested positive for having contact with the first index case in the state have recovered.

Kwajafa said that most of them developed mild and moderate symptoms of the virus while in the mandatory 21 days isolation at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

He said that one nurse died of the virus, while three other health personnel that were isolated in their homes were still being treated.

“The major challenge is stigmatisation in the communities and the belief that the disease did not exist in the state.

“This is why when you go round the city, you will see a lot of people not wearing face masks,” he said.

The state reported 258 cases as at May 28 while it has so far recorded 24 deaths.

Tribuneonlineng.com