You are here: Home → News → Health → 2020 04 15 → Article 353425

General News of Wednesday, 15 April 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Minister of Health speaks on controversy surrounding Benue State COVID-19 patient

« Prev

Next »

Comments (0)

Listen to Article

Ehanire Osagie Ehanire Osagie

The Minister of Health, Ehanire Osagie has cleared the air on the Benue State COVID-10 patient who claims she is being held captive by the Federal Government.

The patient, Susan Okpe, had in a viral video accused the government of lying that she is positive for the virus.

She said, “Hi, everybody, this is Susan Idoko Okpe, née Lawani. I am pleading with everybody to please tell Nigerian government to let me go.

“This is my 16th day of incarceration. What have I done, what have I done? Benue state lied on me that I have COVID-19. I just got the result yesterday after 15 days and the result is a stage play with different date birthdays, different recordings which they themselves know and trying to put right.”

Ehanire who addressed newsmen at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday stated that the patient refused to accept the results which show she is positive.

He also revealed that a third test will be conducted on the patient who says she isn't showing any symptom.

The Minister said, “This is a person who came from aboard and was heading to Benue. She felt unwell and was taken to a hospital and tested positive and was placed in isolation at Benue State.

“I had said before that some people who are infected with coronavirus can have no symptoms, mild or very serious symptoms but even without symptoms they can be infectious.

“This person recovered from the symptoms and began to doubt the test she had undergone. Something led the authorities there to call me and the first complaint was that she was not comfortable where she was kept so we now arranged for her transfer to a more comfortable facility and requested a second test and it came back positive.

“But in the meantime she feels very well, we are planning a third test. This is a case where people feel they are very well and wonder why you are keeping them in isolation, so we tried to engage this individual through her family and her pastor. The bottom line is she is positive but doubts the result and says it is fake.”