Coronavirus: Lagos govt disowns 'fake' list of hospitals exposed to COVID-19 cases

- The Lagos state government has disowned a purported list of hospitals exposed to COVID-19 in Lagos

- The state's health authorities said the list is fake, urging members of the public to disregard it

- According to the government, hospitals, if inadvertently exposed to COVID-19, are only temporarily closed for decontamination after which they continue operation

The Lagos state government has disowned a list making the round on social of hospitals and health facilities purportedly exposed to COVID19 cases in the state.

The purported list had claimed that the Lagos state's Ministry of Health advised residents not to patronise the hospitals allegedly exposed to the virus.

In her reaction, the executive secretary of the Lagos Health Facility and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr Abiola Idowu, said the ministry never issued any statement advising the public not to patronize certain facilities in the state.

“This is the handiwork of mischief makers and fake news merchant who are bent on causing panic in the community and eroding the success recorded in the battle against COVID19,” she said.

“I, therefore, urge residents to disregard the list in its entirety and rely solely on the Ministry of Health and HEFAMAA for information on the operation of health facilities and management of COVID19 cases especially at this critical time."

Idowu explained that if hospitals or health facilities inadvertently admit or treat patients with #COVID19 without knowing, they will be temporarily closed for decontamination while the staff would be trained on Infection, Prevention and Control after which they will be safe to carry on their normal operations.

She also urged the state residents not to stigmatize health facilities that might have been exposed to #COVID19 cases as well as patients infected with COVID19 to prevent severe health problems.

“We need people to desist from stigmatizing such facilities, they are only closed for decontamination and once that has been done as well as other necessary protocols, the facility is safe to offer services to the public,’’ the executive secretary stated.

Idowu also observed that stigma can drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent people from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours.

She urged all health facilities operating in Lagos to adhere strictly to the principle on Infection Prevention and Control, maintain high degree of suspicion for #COVID19 and adhere strictly to laid down protocols for COVID19 suspicion.

The executive secretary also warned private hospitals against unauthorized admission and treatment of confirmed COVID19 cases, warning that any facilities caught violating the laid-down protocol of operations especially with regard to COVID19 case management will be sanctioned in line with the extant provision of the law.

She added that the health ministry and HEFAMAA can be reached through the following telephone numbers – 09015637023, 09057273396, 09038795500, 08172704228 or hefamaa.lagosstate.gov.ng for relevant enquiries.

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Meanwhile, in the spirit of patriotism and gratitude, the Lagos state government has increased the hazard allowance of the state health workers tackling COVID-19 pandemic from N5,000 to N25,000.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the approval for the increment on the allowance as Lagos intensifies efforts in the battle against coronavirus.

Legit.ng gathers the increment was done to motivate the state health workers who have been at the forefront in the efforts towards fighting the pandemic.

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Source: Legit.ng