Meet Amarachukwu, doctor who suspected COVID-19 index case in Nigeria

The Ogun State Government has singled out for commendation the young female doctor, Dr. Amarachukwu Karen Allison of Lafarge Nigeria, who suspected the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index case in Nigeria.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the State under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun said, Amarachukwu’s singular brilliance led to the early diagnosis and rapid containment of the first Covid-19 infection in the country.

“The Ogun State Government appreciates the young female doctor who suspected the index case in Nigeria in our State, Dr. Amarachukwu Karen Allison of Lafarge Nigeria. Her singular brilliance led to the early diagnosis and rapid containment of the first Covid-19 infection in the country,” the official Twitter account of the Ogun State Ministry of Health on Covid-19 tweeted.

Amarachukwu is an experienced medical officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. She is skilled in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, family medicine, tropical medicine, and internal medicine, and a strong healthcare services professional with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). She is BLS and ACLS certified.

In her reaction, Amarachukwu thanked God for intuition and knowledge and also for the safety of her teammates who worked together at the time. She also prayed for health workers around the world who have paid the supreme sacrifice and to all families who have lost loved ones.

“I want to thank God Almighty for intuition and knowledge and also for the safety of my teammates and I who worked together at the time. Special thanks to Lafarge, @NCDCgov @OGCovid19update @LSMOH @Fmohnigeria @IntlSOS for their prompt and professional response; Prof Moji Adeyeye DG NAFDAC @DGatNAFDAC @TundeIrukera (DG FCCPC) for your prayers, calls and support.

“This is a very critical time for us all and I wish to impress on all the need to put adequate measures in place and join the global effort to address COVID-19.

“My special prayers to health workers around the world who have paid the supreme sacrifice and to all families who have lost loved ones. To all unsung heroes, thank you. And not forgetting @WHONigeria for their swift and professional response,” she responded.

Meanwhile, Ogun State has congratulated the Italian index case on completion of his treatment and expressed pleasure that he will be reunited with his family and friends after being cleared of the COVID-19 disease.

“We congratulate the Italian index case on completion of his treatment and are pleased that he will be reunited with his family and friends after being cleared of the COVID-19 disease. There are valuable learnings to take from this case towards the successful management and limitation of transmission of the COVID-19 disease.

“Firstly, a heightened index of suspicion, amongst frontline health workers such as Dr. Allison. Particularly Private Healthcare providers because they are the first point of contact for sixty percent of the populace.

“Secondly, early diagnosis and prompt intervention by health personnel trained in the management of COVID-19 disease. Thirdly, strict self isolation and social distancing is effective in curtailing the spread of the disease as shown by the 40 contacts of the index case who were quarantined within designated facillities for 14days, until they were deemed fit to resume normal life.

“Lastly, but most significant is the collaborative efforts of a multi disciplinary/multi sectoral team comprising of the federal government, the state governments of Ogun and Lagos, partners, both international and local.

“Including the private sector, where latent resources, ranging from infrastructure to financial were tapped into to mount an appropriate response to COVID-19 disease. These all led to the success story of the first index case being discharged and integrated back into society within three weeks of diagnosis,” the State health ministry tweeted.