Lagos State shuts six private hospitals including the one where Abba Kyari received treatment

LAGOS State health officials have closed six private clinics including the one where the former presidency chief of staff Mallam Abba Kyari was recently treated as they pose a serious risk to the public because their staff have been exposed to coronavirus.

Last week, Mallam Kyari became Nigeria's most high profile CDovid-19 casualty when he passed away after receiving treatment at the First Cardiology Consultants Hospital in Ikoyi. Staff at the private facility, however, are said to have been exposed to coronavirus patients and as such the Lagos State health commissioner Professor Akin Abayomi has shut it, along with five others.

He named the six facilities as St Nicholas, Lagos Island branch; First Cardiology Consultants Hospital, Ikoyi; St Edwards Hospital, Ajah; Vedic Lifecare Hospital, Lekki; County Hospital, Ogba and Premier Specialist Hospital, Victoria Island. They have all now been fumigated and placed under lock and key for two weeks.

Vevic Lifecare Hospital, added that its management has suspended all operations for approximately 10 days. It said the decision became necessary after a Covid-19 patient was inadvertently admitted at the facility and two hospital staff members contracted the deadly virus from the individual.

Staff and family members who visited the hospital or have been in contact with anyone who visited any of the above-listed hospitals have been advised to self-isolate and call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Dr Ebun Bamgboye, the clinical director at St Nicholas, confirmed that the hospital has suspended activities for two weeks, adding that patients will henceforth be attended to through telemedicine.