Stop managing COVID-19 patients, Oyo govt warns private hospitals

The Emergency Operations Centre and the COVID-19 Technical Task Force in Oyo State has warned owners of private health centres to stop managing COVID-19 cases in their facilities.

The warning is contained in a statement issued by Mr Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and addressed to chief executive officers, chief operating officers and managers of private health facilities in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It quoted thr Chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Technical Task Force, Prof Temitope Alonge, as saying, “No private health facility in Oyo State has been licensed to manage COVID-19 patients. Strict adherence to the laid down infection prevention and control measures will be enforced by the EOC at any private health facility.”

It said the recent rising cases of COVID-19 in the state had been linked to the management of the pandemic by the private healthcare providers.

“I wish to inform you that there are reports of an increase in the number of healthcare workers who have contracted coronavirus infection at various healthcare facilities,” Alonge said.

He, therefore, enjoined the health workers to comply strictly with the advice, reiterating that the Oyo State Government could not afford any depletion in the healthcare workforce, arising from coronavirus infections.

He said that there were 30 testing centres approved for the purpose of testing samples in the state, including the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, adding that all suspected cases of coronavirus infection should be referred to the centres for testing, which is free for both symptomatic and suspected cases.