Omicron: Abuja Hospitals On Red Alert

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced on Wednesday that it detected two cases of the new Omicron among two travelers from South Africa, meaning that the strain, which has been designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization, is already here with us.

Health personnel in the nation’s capital, Abuja, are not taking the threat lightly despite the increase in vaccination against the disease.

According to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), about 6,242,224 Nigerians have received the first dose of COVID-19 as of November 26.

Out of this number, 3,487,298 have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.

During a two-day visit to federal and general hospitals across the capital which started on Monday, THE WHISTLER observed deliberate efforts by the management of some of the hospitals at ensuring that covid-19 protocols are strictly followed by staff, patients and visitors.

Our correspondent observed on arrival at the National hospital that everyone,  including the security personnel seated outside the hospital wards,  were wearing their masks.

The reporter took a walk to different departments in the hospital, including trauma, physiotherapy, outpatient and surgical, and found personnel and patients  in face masks.

A cluster of visitors and medical doctors seen at the Out Patient department of the hospital were all wearing surgical masks.

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At the General Hospital Kubwa, the alert level is also high as no one is allowed to enter the premises without face mask.

The reporter deliberately removed her face mask to observe the reaction of the security men, but the men at the gate refused to let her in, insisting she wore a mask.

Speaking in Pidgin, one of them said: “Madam if you no get masks buy from here,  if not you won’t enter.”

A health worker also sits under an umbrella at the entrance to check visitors’ temperature. But she is usually overwhelmed by the high number of visitors as many were allowed in without being scanned.

At all the wards of the hospital, including the reception of the emergency ward, there was strict adherence to covid-19 protocols with staff and visitors wearing face masks and making use of the hand sanitizer at intervals.

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Similarly, some level of adherence was observed when the correspondent visited the Garki Hospital on the same day.

Security men at the reception made sure that everyone coming in puts on their face mask, but most visitors remove the masks after passing the guards.

Many visitors seated in the reception were seen either without their face masks or with the masks worn halfway.

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A quick check at the pharmacy, pediatric departments and some wards showed that only the medical personnel are fully observing the covid-19 protocols in the hospital.

The high compliance in many of the health institutions in the city may be due to the new strain of COVID-19 known as Omicron, which has been reported in South Africa.

Speaking on the Omicron virus, the Public Relation Officer of the National hospital,  Dr. Tayo Armstrong,   said  “the hospital will lay emphasis on putting sign posts concerning the new variant to create awareness right from the gate.

“We will also educate the visitors to the hospital and try to continue enforcing the covid-19 protocols and that they need to be much more careful.

“To stop the spread of Omicron, we will ensure the compliance with masking ,and in the hospital we will effect washing of hands and distancing.”