A 37-year-old new mum has died of COVID-19 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
The death occurred on Saturday morning [today], our Correspondent has learnt.
This is coming a few hours after the Lagos Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had announced the COVID-19-related death of an individual at a private hospital in Lagos earlier on Saturday.
A reliable source at LASUTH said the patient was delivered of her baby at the Lagos State Government-owned Alimosho General Hospital.
The source narrated that the woman had developed infections in the course of the childbirth, and was subsequently brought to LASUTH, also state-owned, where she was placed on admission for medical treatment.
The very reliable source confirmed to PUNCH HealthWise that the late patient’s result confirmed her COVID-19 status after she had passed on.
The source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The result came out after she had died, but we had suspected after she came in. So, every precaution was taken by all the workers who attended to her.”
Describing the circumstances surrounding the late patient, our source said, “She had a baby outside LASUTH [at another hospital].
“She was brought in as an emergency from Alimosho General Hospital with infection.
“She was admitted on April 8, but she presented with puerperal sepsis, and high index of suspicion of COVID-19.”
Puerperal sepsis is an infection in the female genital tract within 10 days of childbirth, abortion or miscarriage, experts say.
“She had a baby but she developed an infection. Then, it was noticed that her blood sugar was very high and she had a cough and fever and we suspected there might be coronavirus.
“So, we sent for testing and kept on managing [her], with universal precautions being taken.
“Unfortunately, the mortality rate of infection after [child] delivery is very high.
“She was 37-years-old and she died this morning [Saturday],” our source added.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a memo by the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Tokunboh Fabamwo, to staff members on Saturday, a copy of which was obtained by NAN, confirmed the incident.
The memo is titled, From the CMD, Saturday 11th April 2020 CORONA VIRUS POSITIVE MORTALITY IN AYINKE HOUSE.
It reads, “A case of puerperal sepsis with a high index of suspicion of COVID-19 was admitted on Wednesday.
“LASUTH management was notified on Thursday about the suspicion.
“The normal protocol for testing was activated and the test was carried out. The patient eventually died this morning and the test came out positive.
“The corpse is awaiting evacuation to Yaba. The emergency unit where she was managed will be fumigated immediately and shut down for 48 hours.
“All the doctors and nurses as well as other health workers who came in contact with the patient are being audited regarding the practice of universal precautions.
“The news from HOD OB & Gyn is that it was unlikely any of them did not practise universal precautions since there was a high level of suspicion.
“In case we find any staff who came in contact without precautions, such staff will self-isolate and be tested in five days’ time.
“The Honourable Commissioner for Health has been briefed about the development and is in total agreement with all the steps that we are taking.”
