A 53 year-old nurse who was allegedly abducted from the isolation centre at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State has said doctors approved his discharge.
The patient was identified as Michael Nwachukwu Mordi, according to Delta Health Commissioner, Dr Ononye Mordi.
Dr Mordi said the COVID-19 patient was abducted from the treatment centre by his relatives.
Mordi, a nurse at the Central Hospital, Agbor, allegedly tested positive on May 23 and was admitted at FMC Asaba COVID-19 treatment centre.
A statement by the Delta Health Commissioner, Dr. Mordi Ononye expressed displeasure over the uncooperative stance of the suspected case since his admission at the centre.
Dr. Ononye said the patient has been very aggressive and threatened the caregivers and also rejected his medications.
The statement revealed that at 6pm June 1st, 2020, against all medical advice, Mr. Michael Nwachukwu Mordi, obviously consenting, was forcefully removed from the treatment centre by seven men who claimed to be his relatives and they did not wear any protective coverings.
But Mordi said he was well in Agbor, insisting that he allowed to go by his care givers.
“They asked me to go, and my relatives came to take me home. Nobody forced me out of the place,” he said.
He said he never exhibited symptoms of the disease, alleging that he was over drugged during his stay at the centre.
“They were over drugging me at the centre, and there were no symptoms of the disease. They were just drugging me which was now weighing me down, and having adverse effect on me.
“They were giving me ten tablets each every morning and evening for the past ten days,” he added.
Dr. Ononye stated that the patient and those who forcefully removed him, constitute a danger to their own health and that of populations and communities with which they come in contact.
He therefore alerted the general public about the public health danger of associating with the patient and with those who have exposed themselves to him.
The statement strongly advised that the said patient be returned to the treatment center for proper care and that those who have already been exposed to him should immediately go into supervised self-quarantine for the next 14 days.
Dr. Ononye reiterated that the COVID-19 pandemic is real and enjoined the general public to continue to observe all published preventive protocols such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use of face masks in public places.