The Lagos State government has urged residents to disregard a list currently circulating on the social media platforms of private hospitals allegedly exposed to COVID-19 cases, saying the list is fake.
The Secretary of Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Abiola Idowu, said the list was not released by the Ministry of Health or HEFAMAA as falsely purported by those who shared it.
The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, was reported to have announced that 17 private hospitals in the State have been inadvertently exposed to COVID-19 after managing infected patients.
Although the list of the said hospitals was not made public, they were nonetheless said to have contacted the government for help, and HEFAMAA helped in decontaminating the hospitals while many were asked to shut down.
Shortly after the announcement by the commissioner, a list of the hospitals was circulated, advising the public not to patronise the facilities due to their alleged exposure to COVID19 cases.
The hospitals on the fake list include:
1. St. Edwards Hospital, Ajah Lagos
2. Premier Specialist Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos
3. Vedic Lifecare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos
4. First Cardiology Consultants Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos
5. County Hospital, Ogba, Lagos
6. Ikorodu General Hospital
7. Alimosho General Hospital, and 10 others.
Mrs. Idowu said the list is fake, and warned the public against stigmatising facilities with contrived COVID-19 cases.
“This is the handiwork of mischief makers and fake news merchant who are bent on causing panic in the community and eroding the successes recorded in the battle against COVID19”.
“I therefore urge residents to disregard the list in its entirety and rely solely on the Ministry of Health and HEFAMAA for information on the operation of health facilities and management of COVID19 cases especially at this critical time,” she said.
While admitting that some health facilities might inadvertently admit or treat patients with COVID-19, the facility would be temporarily closed for decontamination while the staff would be trained on Infection, Prevention and Control after which the facility is safe to carry on its normal operations, Mrs Idowu said.
She urged all health facilities operating in Lagos to adhere strictly to the principle on Infection Prevention and Control, maintain high degree of suspicion for COVID-19 and adhere strictly to laid down protocols for COVID-19 suspicion.
She added that IPC will help reduce human-to-human transmission and secondary infections among close contacts and health care workers.
Idowu added that only facilities approved by the state government for COVID-19 case management are expected to carry out the management of COVID-19 cases.
“I enjoin all health facilities operators in the State to direct all enquiries and complaints on COVID-19 case management as well as other issues bordering on their operations to the Lagos State Ministry of Health through HEFAMAA. We can be reached through the following telephone numbers – 09015637023, 09057273396, 09038795500, 08172704228 or visit our website at hefamaa.lagosstate.gov.ng“, she said.