Breaking: Wanted COVID-19 positive patient submits self to Abia govt

…three COVID-19 patients set to leave the facility after testing negative consecutively 

The COVID-19 positive patient;  Emmanuel Ononiwu, who was declared wanted by the Abia State Government after he bolted from a holding facility in Aba has reportedly submitted himself to the medical team for treatment.

This was disclosed Saturday afternoon by the Information Commissioner; Chief John Okiyi-Kalu.

According to Okiyi-Kalu, Ononiwu is now in medical custody and currently at the isolation center in Amachara, Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.

Ononiwu was said to have reported at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Aba, with his family, including his wife, at 8.05am yesterday (Saturday).

He was said to have been immediately moved by a state rapid response ambulance to the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Amachara, Umuahia, for isolation and management. 

Samples will be collected from his wife and other family members for testing while active contract tracing has commenced.

Meanwhile, three patients who are currently at the isolation center, including the 19 years old man from Afugiri, Umuahia, 30 years old man from Ofeme, Umuahia, and the Olokoro Umuahia returnee from Lagos who came to plan the burial of a relation who died in Kano have recovered.

They have tested negative to the virus two consecutive times and are expected to leave the facility Saturday, as arrangements have been concluded at the time of filing the report, for them to leave isolation facility.

“To remove any possible doubt, we are taking the unprecedented step of publishing the pictures of Emmanuel Ononiwu taken from his place of isolation at Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Amachara.

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t want to do this because of medical privacy issues but due to the public interest generated by his ill advised personal decision to bolt from a holding location after testing positive to COVID-19 it is of overriding public interest that we pictorially confirm he is in medical isolation and no longer constitutes a public health risk.

“Mr Ononiwu is being well taken care of and will not suffer any further consequences for his initial lack of good judgement which possibly happened because he was scared.

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has personally directed the medical management team of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to avail him of the best possible care with a view to ensuring that he recovers fully as soon as possible.

“Contact tracing is in full swing. We strongly urge our people to end stigmatization of COVID-19 patients as that act is mostly responsible for the fear to report suspected cases and accept test results.

“COVID-19 is not a death sentence and many are recovering from it including 5 persons already discharged from our Isolation center located at Amachara and two others discharged from FMC Umuahia.

“Members of our medical response team are well trained to handle issues around the disease from sample collection all the way through patients’ management to full recovery.

“Most importantly, God is faithful to the good people of Abia State and will see us through this trying period and going forward.

“COVID-19 is REAL but you can help protect yourself and family members by abiding by all the issued guidelines including the compulsory wearing of face mask before leaving your home, washing your hands regularly with soap under running water and maintaining social,” said Okiyi-Kalu