Rumours of monkey Pox patient causes panic in UBTH

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

There was pandemonium at the early hours of Tuesday at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City, over rumours of a patient believed to be suffering from monkey Pox at the hospital.
It was gathered that the development resulted to mass evacuation of patients’ relatives who stormed the hospital demanding for explanation from the Management of the hospital.

There was a conflicting report yesterday, suggesting that the management of the hospital rejected the patient whose identity as yet to be established as at press time.
Spokesman for the hospital, Mr. Uwaila Joshua, had confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the suspected patient is undergoing further evaluations, adding that no danger posed to staff or other patients.
According to him, the said patient is in an isolated complex at the health facility.
But, a relative of the suspected Monkey Pox patient who did not want to be named in print, dismissed the hospital’s report, saying that they were driven away by authorities of UBTH.
“I read reports of suspected Monkey Pox patient been admitted at UBTH with surprise. For the record, when we took our brother there [hospital] on Monday, we were driven away by some medical personnel at the accident and emergency ward on account that they don’t have facilities to cater for Monkey Pox patients.
“So, I have this question for UBTH management: Is it our brother that they chased away that is now in their facility receiving treatment?
“Except of course, they have another patient over there. And if we are to go by that, would they have rejected my brother on Tuesday on account of no facility and admitt another in their supposed Monkey Pox isolated complex?,” he queried.