COVID-19: 18 Nurses, 7 support staff test positive at UITH

Chairman, University of Ilorin Teaching hospital,(UITH) chapter of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Comrade Olatunde Olawunmi Tuesday said that no fewer than 18 nurses have tested positive for COVID-19 pandemic at the hospital.

Oluwawumi who told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital at the sideline of a meeting with members added that seven supporting staff (portals) have also tested positive for the novel virus.

He also said that UITH is yet to have COVID-19 isolation centre, adding that management had converted one of the ward at the hospital to a centre.

Corroborated by some of the nurses working at the centre, Comrade Oluwawumi said that many of the nurses working at the centre are not properly kitted.

He said, “Presently, we have about 18 nurses that had tested positive to the pandemic and seven sub-staff. We want better protection, adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs). What we are due for should be given to us. We are lacking in a number of things.

We have not got our own isolation centre. Government ought to have built one for us. Based on the increase in the number of patients testing positive to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to take them in here and nurse them.

“Our agitation is that the ward that has been converted to COVID-19 should be properly adjusted to suit the purpose in order not to infect people who are working there.

“People who are working at the centre are not been properly taken care of. Many of them did not sign to work at the isolation centre. They are abandoned in protecting them. We have 22 nurses working at the centre, six cleaners and six portals.“