COVID-19: Ebonyi finance commissioner, principal sec, 15 others test negative, discharged

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Finance and budgeting  Professor Ogbonnaya Chukwu, Chief Clement Nweke, Principal Secretary to the state government and fifteen others have been discharged from the virology centre of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA 2) after testing negative for COVID-19 on Monday.

According to Prof. Chukwu Ogbonnaya who narrated how COVID-19 nearly claimed his life and that of his family, thank God that himself, his wife and his son have been discharged after testing negative for COVID-19.

On his part, the principal secretary to Ebonyi State government, Clement Nweke, debunked rumours flying around that his younger brother and Dean, School of Post Graduate School Ebonyi State University, Prof Eugene Nweke and his family members contracted COVID-19.

Addressing newsmen, Nweke stated that “today, 8th June 2020, I am walking out of the isolation centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, after spending ten days along with my family after repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19.

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“I was taken to the isolation centre on Friday 29th May 2020 after I took responsibility and requested to be tested for COVID-19 following a confirmed test of acute plus3 malaria and pneumonia”.

“The centre and its frontline medical experts have saved many lives. You can imagine the difficulty infected people of Ebonyi State would have faced if their samples have to be taken to IRUA in Edo State for test or treatment, he stated.

Tribune Online reports that Nweke thereafter thanked the governor for his very rapid response to his case and the care and love he showed him while in the isolation centre.

He also commended the governor for his foresight in establishing a well equipped Virology centre as he described the governor as a proactive and visionary man.

Nweke furthermore thanked the commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezuruike and the CMD of AE- FETHA, Emeka Onwe-Ogah, for their exceptional attention and show of support and services in ensuring that all required facilities were very functional at the isolation centre.

“To all the members of the state anti-COVID-19 medical team, doctors, nurses, state EP1D, Dr Emeka and other staff of the virology centre, I remain very grateful. There were very professional. To my family, I remain eternally indebted. To my staff in the office, I appreciate you immensely. 

Finally, to my wonderful friends and well-wishers who showed me lots of love, care and prayers, including those who made it breaking news, I cannot appreciate you enough. May God bless you all”.

Nweke, however, charge Ebonyians not to be afraid to request for COVID-19 test. “if for any reason you are positive, don’t worry, the government of Ebonyi State has provided adequate medical and support services to ensure that you get well as COVID-19 will eventually wither away in your body within 14 days, and you will test negative to COVID-19 again.

“COVID-19 is real and not a scam, Everybody must observe all the anti-COVID-19 protocols”.

He added “Remember that if you test COVID-19 positive today, nothing guarantees that you may not be infected. For those who may test positive to COVID-19 and later negative, you could be reinfected. So the only solution is to continue the strict observance of anti-COVID-19 protocols.

“In this circumstance, suspect everybody as COVID-19 asymptomatic. Do not take it for granted that you are asymptomatic.

Remember there are the aged, the sick, the vulnerable and those with pre-existing health conditions that must be protected from the ravaging COVID -19 pandemic. They suffer the impact most when infected and most at times have no opportunity like some of us.

Above all, ensure that your immunity level is good enough by taking immune-boosting foods, your nutritionist will guide you.

Once again COVID 19 is real, keep safe and protect others,” he said.