Good afternoon everyone.
I& #39;m sharing my personal experience with our failed healthcare system especially on its inability to respond promptly to this COVID-19 epidemic.
#TheAverageNigerian #FailedHealthCare #FailedHealthCareSystem
/1
I& #39;m sharing my personal experience with our failed healthcare system especially on its inability to respond promptly to this COVID-19 epidemic.
#TheAverageNigerian #FailedHealthCare #FailedHealthCareSystem
/1
A week ago, I came down with some symptoms similar to that of COVID-19. I tried the @NCDCgov hotlines several times for about 2 days before I got a response stating that since I have not started showing ALL signs & symptoms plus I have no recent international travel history—
/2
/2
—or contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient I wouldn& #39;t be attended to.
I took to Twitter later that day expressing my displeasure for the response I got and most people including the @NCDCgov dismissed it as a skit or probably an attention seeking video.
/3
I took to Twitter later that day expressing my displeasure for the response I got and most people including the @NCDCgov dismissed it as a skit or probably an attention seeking video.
/3
My symptoms continued to persist and I reached out to the @LSMOH through the hotlines all to no avail before contacting them on Twitter via @08000CORONA where I got a call the following morning.
/4
/4
I was told to get a cough syrup and mix lemon in hot water and take these liquids every morning and evening.
I carried out these practices for 2 days with a little relief or so I thought, up until yesterday where I had serious difficulty breathing.
/5
I carried out these practices for 2 days with a little relief or so I thought, up until yesterday where I had serious difficulty breathing.
/5
I was rushed to a private hospital where I was rejected because of my symptoms, and was referred to the Mainland Hospital (Formerly Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos).
/6
/6
Upon my arrival at the Mainland Hospital, the doctors on ground reluctantly attended to the case after questioning me.
/7
/7
Some of the doctors dismissed it almost immediately stating that the signs and symptoms plus possible confirmed contact did not fit the profile of a COVID 19 case.
/8
/8
A sample was eventually collected for testing after we insisted on NOT leaving without a test being carried out. While the test was ongoing 2 persons were immediately admitted into the Isolation Ward based on the fact that they had possible contact with a confirmed case.
/9
/9
We were later referred again from the Mainland Hospital to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for medical examination.
On getting to LUTH we were halted at the entrance of the Accident & Emergency Ward and told to wait outside.
/10
On getting to LUTH we were halted at the entrance of the Accident & Emergency Ward and told to wait outside.
/10
We were questioned from a distance on the symptoms I was experiencing.
After questioning, the doctor said this was a possible case of COVID 19 and referred us back to Mainland Hospital Yaba stating that they do not have adequate gear and facilities to handle such a case.
/11
After questioning, the doctor said this was a possible case of COVID 19 and referred us back to Mainland Hospital Yaba stating that they do not have adequate gear and facilities to handle such a case.
/11
All these took place within the hours of 11pm and 5am while I was still having difficulty breathing, dry cough and my hands and feet were numb.
/12
/12
We eventually decided to head back home as there was no HOPE in sight of being attended to. We placed a call across to a Nigerian trained Consultant based in the US who prescribed some medications to subdue the symptoms and instructed us to carry out certain tests.
/13
/13
I’ll be going live on Instagram tomorrow morning by 9:00 am to give a proper account of everything that happened yesterday night.
#TheAverageNigerian
#FailedHealthCareSystem #FailedHealthCare
/14
#TheAverageNigerian
#FailedHealthCareSystem #FailedHealthCare
/14