On 20th April, 2020, we reported that Abia State had confirmed 2 cases of COVID-19, these cases were patients being treated at FMC, Umuahia, for other conditions.
I am excited to report to you today that we will be discharging our first successfully managed case from the isolation center. We are particularly happy about this medical triumph as this patient is the oldest patient in the South East to make it back to health from this disease.
The patient has satisfied the NCDC conditions for discharge from Isolation Centers which is having 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 test results from samples tested in an NCDC Reference Laboratory. The remarkable improvement of the patient is a positive highlight in the clinical management of this novel disease and we are grateful to the team of healthcare workers directly or indirectly responsible for this victory.
While we continue in our efforts to track suspicious cases, identify suspected sufferers and track probable contacts, our focus is to ensure that testing of all high-risk contacts of both index cases is carried out, and we remain hopeful for negative results all through as is the case of everyone tested thus far.
This COVID-19 pandemic is a clarion call for leaderships at all levels across and beyond political governments to begin to think outside the box on the way forward because despite the immense challenges we are experiencing now, COVID-19 brings with it immense opportunities as well. And as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, puts it, we must not ‘let a good crisis go to waste’. It is in light of this that we announce the introduction of the ABIA STATE TELEHEALTH MOBILE APP to all Abians. The ABIA STATE TELEHEALTH APP is a remote clinical platform for healthcare service delivery, where our healthcare consumers can access care from their providers, whether to originate contact or for follow up – to reconnect, continue or to complete care, this APP is currently downloadable at www.abiatelehealth.com/downloadapp.
Remote healthcare service delivery has become pertinent to every local health system model around the world today even as we are being urged to stay cautious and remain vigilant more so, as the lockdown exercise is being gradually relaxed. Let us not stop practising the strict sanitary and hygiene measures currently in place, continue physical distancing and never depend on unreliable sources for our information.
We have extended the delivery of palliatives to local governments, in addition to Churches, geriatric services agency, destitute homes and our brothers from neighboring states who reside in our state. Our package includes bags of rice, beans, yam, garri, money and, most importantly, protective materials.
We thank again and again the people of Abia State for their understanding and support through these unusual times. We keenly appreciate those who stand in the frontlines in the fight against the spread of this COVID-19, and especially, the case management team for this index case. On our part, we will continue to strengthen government efforts towards ensuring a defeat of the virus and a seamless post COVID-19 transition.
Thank you and God bless you.
GOD BLESS THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE!
