The Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said it is normal for patients in isolation to complain during the first few days.
This follows numerous complaints by isolated Coronavirus patients at the Yaba Infectious Diseases Centre.
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Many of the patients alleged that they are not being attended to properly and were not being treated as expected.
Prof. Abayomi however stated that it wasn’t out of place for patients to complain at the start of the isolation period because it was a new journey for them.
He said this while he was inspecting a 120 bed space isolation centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba on Tuesday.
He stated that unlike normal wards, physical interaction is very limited in isolation wards.
“When COVID-19 patients come into isolation wards, it usually takes one to two days before they get used to the operations at the centre.
“In normal wards, people will come greet you; healthcare providers will come check your blood pressure as often as possible, among others.
But in an isolation ward, every time a doctor or nurse comes in there, he or she wears a N70, 000 outfit which can only be worn once.
“The healthcare providers will only come into the ward two, three or four times a day.
A patient in that ward might be confused for the first day or two until they get accustomed to the fact they will not see their healthcare provider as often as in normal wards.
There is a reason it is called isolation centre. But what is most important is that the patients are given qualitative care at any given time.”
Speaking on the video that went viral when the relation of one of the Coronavirus patients complained bitterly about conditions in the isolation Centre, Prof. Abayomi said such behaviour was expected within the first few days of isolation.
He noted further that the patients get used to the conditions after a few days. He also added that the intervention needed for the patients are administered during the isolation period.
Prof. Abayomi stated that he was pleased with the isolation facility at LUTH adding that it contained the necessary treatment for Coronavirus.
“If we eventually get a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, the centre in LUTH, Onikan, Yaba, Gbagada, and other places will come in handy. That is why we are preparing these centres beforehand,” he added.
The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode said appropriate personnel had been trained on the management of Coronavirus patients.
“This is a first class isolation centre. We are glad for the support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also made. They gave us 60 beds. LUTH will support the state and the federal government in curbing the public health challenge,” he said.