Contradicts Nigerian Minister For Health Lai Mohammed
The Nigerian government has once again, conflicted its stance on the fight against COVID-19, this time, on the release of dead Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients to their families.
The Lagos State government said on Sunday that there was no policy prohibiting the release of COVID-19 dead bodies.
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The Commissioner for Health in Lagos, Professor akin Abayomi stated this while briefing journalists on Sunday.
This, again, is in at variance to the statement made by the Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
There has been uproars from Nigerians after the Lagos government released the remains of Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari who died of COVID-19 complications at a private hospital in Lagos.
In early April, Lai Mohammed, according to NAN reports, said family members of Coronavirus victims would not be allowed to claim their remains for burial.
“Coronavirus is very dangerous and contagious; there is no medicine for it yet and it is not just capable of killing and overwhelming the health care system but it will destroy the economy.
“In some countries, they are putting dead bodies in big refrigerators because the morgues have filled up.
“Nigerians should not forget that this is not the type of corpses that can be claimed for burial because it must be handled by the Ministry of Health.
“It is not a joke; stay at home and stay safe, obey simple instructions of basic hygiene and social distancing, in few weeks, we will resume our normal life.”
In a direct u-turn, the Lagos State Health Commissioner, while responding to questions to clarify the controversy over the release of Abba Kyari said on Sunday that “There is no policy against the release of the diseased with COVID-19 in terms of release for burial. If you demise from any condition, there is a protocol to manage any scenario,” Professor Abayomi said.
He explained, “The protocol for managing death from COVID-19 is that the body is decontaminated, and now placed in a special body bag.
“We put them in two body bags and then place within a coffin, then the coffin is sealed. The family is then allowed to collect the body and be taken for burial.”
Prof Akin argued that the only restriction on burial is that attendees must not be more than 25 people including religious members of the ceremony and grave diggers
He said the government would release the remains of COVID-19 victims to family members so long they conduct a private burial with NCDC measures followed.
“So, there is no current policy that bars us from handing over the deceased to their family members.
“It just has to be done in a way that does not expose family members or does not break the current law around the number of people to be aggregated in one place,” Professor Abayomi insisted.
Again, the attendees at Abba Kyari’s funeral were more than 50 people and not all of them wore masks and gloves, including the journalists at the scene.
This is not the first time the Lagos Health Minister’s statement is the direct opposite of other government officials.
NAIJA CENTER reports on Sunday how Akin Abayomi conflicted Nigerian Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire on the accreditation of private hospitals to treat the COVID-19 patients.
While Prof Abayomi said the Private hospital in Lagos where Abba Kyari, died is a government-accredited facility, Dr Ehanire said the Federal Ministry of Health had not accredited any private hospital to treat COVID-19 patients.
Ehanire said “No accredited private hospital has been approved in Abuja. Lagos is looking at some accredited hospitals. There’s one large hospital in Lagos that has called me and said they want to become a coronavirus treatment centre.”
Abayomi contradicted, saying “As a basis for accreditation, First Cardiology Consultants established a separate specialist wing with staff dedicated to the treatment of complicated cases of #COVID-19, under the supervision of the Lagos State #COVID-19 emergency response team”
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