FROM THE STATES

UITH Suspends Professor of Medicine over complicity in management of deceased COVID 19 suspect

Our involvement in this controversy unfortunate – CMD UITH,

Further Investigations commence immediately

 

Oluseyi Dasilva

 

 

The Chief Medical Director, CMD of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH Professor Abdul Dasilva Yusuff has expressed serious concern over the seeming impasse between the institution and Kwara state government.

Professor Yusuff in a press release made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, said  “we were fed with the information of a suspected Food Poisoning, as the cause of the death of the patient until we got another lead to the likely cause of the death of the said patient. In fact, it was shocking to us that the wife of the deceased patient had tested positive for the deadly virus as announced yesterday by the kwara State Covid-19 Technical committee.

The CMD explained that all UITH staff who had close contact with the deceased patient on the night of his admission, or his corpse have been ordered to proceed on self isolation adding that the Accident and Emergency, ‘A and E’ ward as well as the ambulance used to convey his corpse to Offa had been promptly fumigated.

Yusuff sought the assistance of the media in conveying the remote and immediate decisions taken by the hospital management on Professor A. K. Salami who facilitated the admission of the patient.

“The Management of the Hospital has placed  Prof A. K. Salami on immediate suspension as a Senior Consultant in this hospital bothering on his unethical conduct  in the admission, management and eventual release of the corpse  of the suspected Covid -19 patient who died in the hospital on the 2nd of April, 2020.

 

He explained that the Teaching Hospital took all necessary precautions against CIVID 19 pandemic and was on guard according to directives from the federal ministry of health adding that he was taken aback to discover how a very Senior Consultant of his hospital had involved in such unprofessional conduct.

“Gentlemen of the press it is with a serious  concern that I am addressing you this morning over the recent happenings at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), following the death  on Thursday, April 2nd 2020, of a suspected COVID-19 patient some few hours on admission at the Accident and Emergency wing of the hospital.

 

 

“As you are all aware, this is not the best of time for our dear nation and indeed the entire world over the rampaging pandemic disease,  COVID-19. The disease, which first broke out in China some few months ago had since ravaged countless number of countries of the world- Nigeria not being an exception.

 

“Following directives from the Federal Ministry of Health, we swung into immediate actions, by upgrading our isolation centre with necessary facilities and retraining of our staff for any envisaged emergencies.

 

“Refresher courses were organized for all categories of staff  of the UITH to braze them up for the greatest challenges threatening human existence, at least in the modern world.

 

Besides, the number of staff reporting to  work was reduced  in line with strict compliance to the World Health Organization (WHO) directive on Social Distancing to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Synergies were built with other health care givers/ stake holders across the state, in readiness for any eventuality.

 

Professor Yusuff also hinted that the UITH management has constituted a Medical Investigation Committee on the COVID-19 Suspected Case headed by Professor E.O. Afolayan to investigate all that happened in the controversial medical scenario.

According to the CMD, the committee terms of reference include:

“Investigate the allegations of the CONVID-19 Suspected case that died on April, 2nd, 2020 that was brought in by a relative who is also a member of staff (Professor A.K. Salami),

 

“Investigate the process of admission, management and eventual release of the corpse,

 

“Investigate motives behind the concealment of accurate information provided by the patient’s relative

 

“ Determine culpability of the patient’s relative involved,

 

“Make appropriate recommendations to forestall future recurrence of the act.

 

The Committee is to submit their report within a week from the date of their first sitting.

Other members of the committee are Professor B.S. Alabi, Professor (Mrs) G.F. Adepoju who is the Chairperson, Ethical Committee of the hospital, Mrs I.A. Akosile, Deputy Director (Legal), Professor G.K. Oshagbemi, Dr L.J. Olosunde, who is the local President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Mr O.A. Olatunde, Chairman, UITH branch of JOHESU, Mr G.E. Salami, Chairman, NANNM, UITH and Mrs O.O. Olubolaji who will serve as the Secretary of the high powered body.

 

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