By Gbadamosi Oladimeji
Two patients, Abbas Kaka Hassan and Hauwa Mohammed, are on the run after testing positive for COVID-19 at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno State.
Hassan, 24, lives at Layin Tanki in Gwange 11 while Mohammed, 42, resides in Shuwari ward in Borno State respectively.
While briefing journalists, the Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Response Team for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19, Dr Salisu Kwayabura, confirmed this recently at the Government House in Maiduguri.
Kwayabura said the male patient was in initial telephone contact with the response team after his sample was collected, but eventually switched off his phone when he learnt he tested positive.
According to the Commissioner, a phone number through which the patient’s mother was in touch with the team has also been switched off.
“When samples of patients with contacts to index cases are collected, they are normally advised to go on self-isolation. They give their contacts so they can be reached when the results are out,” he added.
Kwayabura noted that the standard medical procedure says, “You cannot detain someone with suspected contact”, adding that health workers do not have the lawful powers to do that.
“Other patients were also allowed to leave but they came into isolation centres, and we have 19 of them in two isolation centres. However, the young man in question chose to go into hiding,” he said.
He assured that a diligent surveillance and investigation team is working very hard to track the patient, and called on anyone who tests positive to the disease not to regard it as a death sentence as majority of those who test positive have recovered from the disease.
He, however, stated that 16 of the COVID-19 cases emanated from community transmission, while 14 others were connected with the index and another case.
The state government also called on citizens to take serious preventive measures across the state.
As of the time of filing this report, 1273 cases have been confirmed, 239 have been discharged and 40 deaths have been recorded in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
