In Delta State, victims of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, especially those discharged from Isolation and Treatment Centres, have continued to feel free to attest to the reality of the virus, even in the state, a step which aims at convincing the doubting Thomases.
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This is as the state government is seen to be doing its possible best to contain the pandemic. One way of doing this now is to reveal the identities of the discharged patients to also serve as a proof to the public that COVID-19 is not a scam, as some citizens believe.
Ofure Okhifo, a Warri-based legal practitioner who was discharged from the COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment centre of the Asaba Specialist Hospital, Monday 7, was the next to testify.
Ofure in a joyous mood after receiving her discharge certificate, after testing negative to the virus due to the treatment she received, disclosed that she did not believe COVID-19 was real until she contracted it.
She expressed gratitude to all those who made sacrifices for her to get well, noting that she received good attention from the medical doctors and the nurses.
She also disclosed that her parents and one of her siblings tested positive for COVID-19 before she and her mother were taken to Asaba while her father and brother were kept in Isolation centre in Warri for treatment.
Reading from her discharge certificate, it was stated that she was admitted at the isolation centre on May 18th after she was referred from the Nigerian Port Authority Clinic, Warri.
According to the certificate, Ofure would live in a single room with a lot of ventilation and wear a mask while talking with other people, take a lot of fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water.
She was also informed that her recovery from COVID-19 was not a guarantee that she could not be reinfected and should adhere to health protocols as released by the government while she would be checked on regularly as an outpatient.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Aniagwu, who witnessed the event, said since April 7 when the first index case was recorded in the state, the government had remained at alert to its duties by ensuring that those affected were adequately treated while aggressive campaigns on the causes and prevention were also, extended to all parts of the state.
He noted that the discharge of the patient was a clear indication that COVID-19 was not a death sentence with early detection.
Aniagwu urged Deltans to obey health protocols as set by government, noting that although the state has isolation centres, it would be better that the people did not become victims of the ravaging pandemic.
