Akwa Ibom state government on Sunday discharged three Covid-19 survivors from Ibom Specialist Hospital Uyo amid fanfare.
Recall that over a week ago, the state government sent home three covid-19 patients whose confirmation test came out negative.
However, one of the covid-19 survivors, Dr.Otobong Asuquo who contracted the Virus during a medical outreach in Uyo said he will go back to work but must ensure personal protection in the discharge of his duties.
Two of the three survivors discharged greeted members of the public with a common message that “Covid-19 is real! Please follow all the precautions given and protect yourselves”.
Recounting his experience, Asuquo said having read about Covid-19 before his attack, he was able to isolate himself for 10 days before being picked up by the emergency response team of the state government.
“I am going back to work! I vowed to protect lives and i nothing can discourage me from doing so. But this time around; I have to be very strict with personal protection.
“The moment i suspected I had contacted corona virus, i had to first of all protect my family members by going into self isolation for 10 days before I was picked up. Protect yourself if you are negative. Covid-19 is real! He said
Another discharged survivor, Pharm Ememobong Gabriel Udoh who said his symptoms started with loss of his sense of smell, said he initially adopted home remedies such as steam inhalation and vitamin C to build his immunity.
Though initially scared, the Pharmacist who was also a victim of the medical outreach said he got the initial courage to push from friends and family, and thereafter from the soothing treatment enjoyed from the facilities and medical personnel at Ibom Specialist hospital.
His words “It was quite a rough and scary experience initially, but i got courage from friends and family. Ibom Specialist Hospital also did a great job. The treatment has been top notch. It encouraged both physical and psychological recovery”
Udoh however recounted a panicking experience where he was tested negative after some weeks of treatment, only to again test positive on a confirmatory test. “I got quite down when i got tested negative and was later tasted positive again”. He said
In a reaction, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong said the state government was doing everything within its power to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the state, as well give those who have been tested positive the best attention for prompt recovery.
He announced that out of the 31 samples sent out for test, 30 returned negative while one turned out positive. ” in addition to this, we have just discharged three persons who have been successfully treated to recovery” he added.
