Yobe: We can’t attribute strange deaths to COVID-19 now – NMA

…Calls on govt to commence thorough investigation

…We’re confused, Gashua residents cry out

…Our team members are on fact-finding mission in Yobe – Ehanire

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that it would be difficult at this stage to attribute ‘strange deaths’ recorded in Yobe State recently Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Speaking during a telephone interview with the Daily Times on Thursday, the NMA president, Dr. Francis Faduyile, however, called on the state government to commence a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of deaths.

He said: “It will be difficult at this stage to categorically attribute what is happening in Yobe State to COVID-19.

“However, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 should collaborate with the state government to investigate the strange deaths in the interest of safeguarding the lives of the people”.

Meanwhile, the residents have expressed concerns over the strange deaths that has currently bedivilling the state.

A resident of Gushau, Mr. Saliu Gambo said: “I don’t think it’s COVID-19 that’s killing our people, I don’t think the virus has gotten to its peak to wipe out people like that.

“However, I call on the Federal Government to assist us in this battle because we are living in fear”, he said.

Another resident, Ezekiel Wakawa said he was convinced that the deaths could be COVID-19 related.

Using Kano State as an example, Wakawa added: ” Look at Kano State for instance, they denied at the initial stage that it wasn’t the disease but in the end, it turned out to be COVID-19.

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“As I am talking to you right now, health workers have deserted the hospitals out of fear. The Federal Government should come to our assistance”.

In the meantime, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that a high delegation team from the Ministry of Health is currently in Yobe State on a fact-finding mission.

He said: “A FMoH delegation of experts is presently in Yobe State on a fact-finding mission to work with the State government and look into reports of unexplained deaths.

“The similar missions to Katsina and Jigawa identified needs in those states, which include the need for a molecular laboratory in Katsina to reduce the backlog of pending tests and the turn-around time for results.

“This will be looked into. Other high burden areas or states grappling epidemic control issues will be offered similar support”.

Yobe State task force on COVID-19 revealed at the weekend that about four hundred and seventy one people died in the state.

There have been suspicions and fears that some of the people may have died of complications arising from COVID-19 infection.

Strange deaths have been recorded in Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi states.

Commissioner for Health Mohammed Lawan Gana, who is also the Vice Chairman of the State Committee on the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 said the government was investigating the causes of the strange deaths.

According to him, the death could not be completely linked to the current pandemic neither could it be denied as having no association with the virus.

He added that the government had deployed a team of health personnel to conduct verbal autopsy, a process must be meticulous and systematic to guard against mistakes.

“These rumours happened. People die due to various causes. We may not say it is coronavirus. When this kind of thing happens, we have our standard ways of doing things. We have sent out a team to go to the local government to establish that these deaths are happening and the causes”.