Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has instituted a special hazard allowance for the frontline staff of FMC and others involved in the management of the index patients and their contacts along with the case management pillar lead and members of the Abia State Emergency Operations Centre with effect from 20th April, 2020.
The commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who confirmed this while giving Update on Abia State COVID-19, said the action of the Governor was in appreciation of the work and sacrifices they are doing in managing the Abia index cases.
Chief Kalu also confirmed that, “Our index cases, both of who were patients of Federal Medical Center (FMC), Umuahia, are stable and receiving care at the isolation facility of the hospital and we are optimistic that even as geriatric patients who are above 70 years old and with underlying medical conditions, God will use the firm and experienced hands of our medics to bring them back to good health.”
According to the statement, “In addition to the above support, Governor Ikpeazu has deployed the following materials to FMC to support the institution in the management of the patients:
i. Two units of patient monitors, one oxygen concentrator and medications in respect of the two index patients admitted in their isolation center.
Ii. Medical doctors on the payroll of the state government are working in conjunction with other health personnel in caring for the patients.
iii. In collaboration with
NCDC, the state sponsored the training of relevant medical personnel in the handling of COVID-19 cases.”
He informed that all the 31 high risk samples so far taken and tested from contacts of the index cases returned negative results, including those of the spouse, care giver as well as some medical personnel who managed them adding that more samples are going out today for screening and the result will updated as appropriate.
He equally disclosed that 262 contacts have been traced while the they are actively following 212 of them who are under surveillance and isolation revealing also that the sample of the late police officer of Bayelsa State origin who died while in holding at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, returned a negative result.