By Gbadamosi Oladimeji
The Lagos State Government has cautioned members of the public to disregard a list making the rounds on social media and to avoid stigimatisation of hospitals and health facilities that might have been exposed to Covid-19 cases in the State.
The Executive Secretary, Lagos Health Facility and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) Dr. Abiola Idowu, who disowned the list which was purportedly to have emanated from the Ministry of Health disclosed that the Ministry through HEFAMAA never issued any statement advising the public not to patronize certain facilities in the State.
On the other hand, she stated that the action can encourage people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking healthcare immediately, and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours.
She therefore urged residents to disregard the list in its entirety so as to avoid stigmatization on the hospitals enlisted, and to rely solely on the Ministry of Health and HEFAMAA for information on the operation of health facilities and the management of Covid-19 cases especially at this critical time.
It could be recalled that there was a purported list of hospitals claimed to must have come from the Lagos state Ministry of health, circulating social media in the last few days, saying that the enlisted hospitals had been exposed to Covid-19 case in the State.
Dr. Idowu further explained that some health facilities might inadvertently admitted or treated patients with Covid-19 without prior knowledge. She added that if it happens, the facility will be temporarily closed for decontamination while the staff would be trained on Infection Pevention and Control, after which the facility will be safe to carry on its normal operations.
She however appealed to members of the public to desist from stigmatizing health facilities that might have been exposed to Covid-19 cases as well as the patients infected to prevent severe health problems.
“We need people to desist from stigmatizing such facilities. They were only closed for decontamination, and once that has been done as well as other necessary protocols, the facilities will be safe to offer services to the public,’’ the Executive Secretary stated.
She also urged all health facilities operating in Lagos to adhere strictly to the principle on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), maintain high degree of suspicion for Covid-19 and adhere strictly to laid down protocols for Covid-19 suspicion. She added that the IPC will help reduce human-to-human transmission and secondary infections among close contacts and healthcare workers.
While highlighting some of the critical components of the protocol, Dr. Idowu explained that each healthcare facility must have a plan and a team in place to address Covid-19 issues such as triaging and assigning responsibility for notification or communication with the Lagos State Covid-19 response team through the 08000CORONA toll free line, 08000267662 or the Ministry of Health and the Local Government Area.
However, She advised facilities against unauthorized admission and treatment of confirmed Covid-19 cases, warning that any facilities caught violating the laid-down protocol of operations, especially with regards to Covid-19 case management will be sanctioned in line with the extant provision of the law.
She reiterated that only facilities approved by the State Government for Covid-19 case management are expected to carry out the management of Covid-19 cases.
Idowu urged individuals in the State to desist from issuing panicky statements to the public on the operation of health facilities. This according to her is capable of causing confusion and making the fight against the pandemic more challenging.
‘’I enjoin all health facility operators in the State to direct all enquiries and complaints on Covid-19 case management as well as other issues bordering on their operations to the Lagos State Ministry of Health through the Health Facility and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA). We can be reached through the following telephone numbers – 09015637023, 09057273396, 09038795500, 08172704228 or visit our website at hefamaa.lagosstate.gov.ng”, she said.
