Speaking on Inspiration FM over the weekend, the CMD said COVID-19 numbers in the country would probably be ten times higher if there was widespread testing.
He noted that Lagos State was having a higher number because it was testing aggressively; adding that states claiming not to have COVID-19 cannot say so without testing.
According to him, ” In Akwa Ibom, we are not testing enough. We need to do more testing because it is when people know they are positive that they can be removed from circulation either by self Isolation or be admitted to an Isolation Center. So the risk of infecting other members of the public is a lot less. It is only when we do so that we can begin to control the epidemic.”
The CMD further revealed “There are over fifty health care workers in the UUTH including consultant specialists who are exposed to the disease currently in self Isolation awaiting testing. Imagine the manpower being wasted. It still brings us round the same circles that we need to scale up testing in the state. If they are tested and they are negative they can return to work and contribute their quota to the management of patients.”
Dr. Bassey also hinted that UUTH will flag-off it’s Isolation and treatment center on Monday, May 11, 2020 to complement the efforts of the state government in curbing COVID-19.
He stated that the Isolation Center at UUTH was made up of twenty-four rooms, four suites, an intensive care unit and a mini-laboratory managed by well-trained members of staff. Adding that the COVID 19 response in Akwa Ibom state was a unified one led by the state ministry of health and the Commissioner for health.
