The COVID-19 Technical Task Force and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Oyo State has directed owners of private health facilities to stop managing COVID-19 cases in their facilities.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday, January 9 2021.
The statement, which was addressed to Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers and Managers of private health facilities in Ibadan, Oyo state, indicated that the directive had the backing of Prof Temitope Alonge, the chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Technical Task Force.
No private health facility in Oyo state has been licensed to manage COVID-19 patients. Strict adherence to the laid down infection prevention and control measures will be enforced by the EOC at any private health facility,” the statement quoted Alonge as saying the recent rising cases of COVID-19 in the state had been linked to the management of the pandemic by the private healthcare providers.
“I wish to inform you that there are reports of an increase in the number of healthcare workers who have contracted coronavirus infection at various healthcare facilities”, Alonge said.
While reiterating that the Oyo state government could not afford any depletion in the healthcare workforce, due to ill health arising from coronavirus infections he enjoined the health workers to comply strictly with the advice
He added that there were 30 testing centres approved for the purpose of testing samples, including the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, adding that all suspected cases of coronavirus infection should be referred to the centres for testing, which is free for both symptomatic or suspected cases.
