TheCable

Ikpeme Ikpeme, chief medical director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), says a patient tested positive for COVID-19 in the hospital.

The government of Cross River has maintained that the state is free of COVID-19 despite the symptoms shown by some patients in the state.

Last week, Godwin Akwaji, lawmaker representing Obudu constituency at the Cross River house of assembly, died at UCTH after showing symptoms of COVID-19.

In a circular seen by TheCable, Ikpeme asked staff to avoid exposing themselves to the disease.

He said a patient had tested positive during random tests carried out within the hospital.

Ikpeme said the patient, whose identity was not disclosed, had been discharged after recovering from the disease.

“With recent developments, it does appear that the state may not be free of Covid-19 as generally believed. A recent rapid test carried on a patient came out positive” Prof. Ikpeme said in a circular addressed to the hospital management, staff and patients,” read the circular dated June 25, 2020.

“However, the patient had recovered and discharged from our isolation center last week.”
Professor Ikpeme added that the UCTH Management has been in direct contact with the Director General, NCDC and NCDC has approved the Hospital as an independent test centre.

“The implication of this is that, henceforth, we do not need to pass samples through the Epidemiology Unit of the State as was the case before.”

Ikpeme, who advised the staff of the hospital to adhere strictly to the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said the agency had approved UCTH as a test centre.

“The UCTH management had been in direct contact with the director general of NCDC and NCDC had approved the hospital as an independent test centre.

“The implication of this is that, henceforth, we do not need to pass samples through the Epidemiology Unit of the State as was the case before.”

When contacted, Beta Edu, the state commissioner for information, told TheCable she had seen the circular.

However, she dismissed it, saying COVID-19 test is not done at a rapid test centre.