The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, has urged members of the public to continue accessing healthcare services at the hospital without fear of contracting diphtheria.
Mr Boniface Uchelue, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.
He said the situation at the hospital remained calm, with normal clinical activities continuing without interruption.
He explained that the condition initially suspected to be diphtheria was later identified, following a post-mortem clinical review, as severe pharyngotonsillitis with massive exudate.
“Everywhere is calm and normal and activities are going on. Patients are coming and health workers are administering uninterrupted care. What was reported was a misrepresentation of another diagnosis that had similar manifestations to diphtheria,” he said.
The PRO, however, said the hospital had taken precautionary measures by placing people who had contact with the patient on prophylaxis to prevent possible infection.
He added that contact tracing was also ongoing, noting that the hospital was taking necessary precautions to guard against any possible infectious disease outbreak.
Uchelue clarified that the patient did not come from the northern part of the country, as widely speculated, but from Lagos.
He said the hospital had continued to provide uninterrupted services, with doctors, nurses and medical students carrying out their normal duties.
“There is no cause for panic. People should come into the hospital and access healthcare.
“We were there today and saw nurses, doctors and medical students working, while patients were coming in and being attended to,” he said.
Uchelue said UNTH had the capacity to manage diphtheria or any other medical emergency should a confirmed case emerge.
He said the hospital had previously handled similar medical emergencies and had the necessary personnel and resources to respond effectively.
The PRO assured the public that the hospital management, under its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, was capable of managing any health emergency that might arise.
(NAN)
