Soji Ajibola
A renowned Professor of Virology and former Vice Chancellor , Redeemer’s University, Oyewale Tomori, has cautioned Federal Government over plan to re-open tertiary institutions nationwide.
He said the reported low cases of the novel virus in the country did not truly represent the actual figure , adding that the truth was that there was significant drop in testing , which accounts for drop in the cases of infections.
In a lecture titled ” Science and Mis-Science of Covid-19 ” , to mark the 2020 Annual General Meeting Week of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria , University College Hospital ( UCH), Ibadan chapter, Tomori noted series of misinformation and fake news through social media and the mass media since the disease started, and warned governments not to be swayed into making wrong decisions because of the misinformation.
While he decried the impact of fake news on the socioeconomic life of the people since the beginning of the disease , the Professor of Virology warned against complacency both on the part of the government and the citizens .
The visual lecture held at the Inner Chamber of the Consultants Lounge , UCH Ibadan, had in attendance the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital , Prof Jesse Otegbayo; Chairman of the occasion , Prof Samuel Omokhodion , and the Chairman , UCH Response Team of Covid-19 , Professor Kayode Osungbade amongst others.
The Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, University College Hospital chapter , Dr. Dare Olulana , disclosed that eleven members of the association were infected by the virus , but expressed thanks that no lives were lost.
He said ” We have about eleven of our members that were infected, but to the glory of God none of them fell badly ill to require ventilator . And to the glory of God the second time, we did not have any mortality, that is none of those cases were fatal.
”The question will be how did it go , well you will recalled that early in the pandemic when we began to see them in UCH, one of the measures we took was for MDCAN to consult with some experts and we deliberated on some measures to undertake and we sought the permission of the management ably led by Professor Jesse Otegbayo to ask that some elders , I mean the elderly ones among us should work from home. So we made the announcement that everyone above 60 years old among the consultants should work from home . And that has proved us right .”