47-year-old pastor dies of COVID-19 in Delta while awaiting evacuation

By Akpos Oghenetega,

 

 

A 47-year-old Pastor who was allegedly smuggled into a private hospital in Sapele, Delta State on Saturday after he developing symptoms of Coronavirus, has reportedly died Monday night while awaiting evacuation after the hospital was sealed up.

Evangelist Wilson Okotie, Founder and Senior Pastor, High Impact Christian Centre, located at number 3, Ogirisen Avenue, Off Akintola Road, Opposite Ita Lane, Sapele, Delta State, was said to have fallen ill and was taken to a health facility in Warri, from where he was allegedly brought to Sapele.

The deceased was said to have given up at about 6:43 pm while awaiting evacuation from Treasurehold Specialist Hospital along Ugbeyiyi road in Sapele, where he was admitted and been secretly managed against COVID-19 protocol.

Recall that the Delta State Ministry of Health by the Dr Richard Ikwuogu, Delta State Epidemiologist, Team lead, inspection/monitoring of health facilities, and incident manager of Covid-19 response, on Monday, on a tip-off had stormed the hospital premises where the deceased was admitted and sealed it, after finding out that two patients were being treated for Coronavirus.

The monitoring team from the State capital, Asaba stormed the hospital at about 15:43pm.

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Accompanied by the local government council chairman, Hon. Eugene Inoaghan, men of the Nigerian Police Force and Vigilante and the medical officer of health, Sapele Local Government Area, Dr R. K Abeke, the team swung into action immediately identifying the patients before going on to seal the hospital.

Dr Abeke, while confirming the cases said the clinic was sealed because it lacked facilities for the treatment of COVID 19 cases, “we have 11 isolation centres in Delta State, including Sapele and for a clinic to treat suspected COVID 19 cases without having the capacity is wrong.”

 

He added that patients, nurses and doctors at the hospital will be quarantined for two weeks as soon as the suspected COVID 19 patients are moved to the Delta State Teaching Hospital in Oghara, Isolation centre.

One of the deceased was said to have died while waiting for evacuation this evening, a situation that has altered the evacuation arrangement.

However, ADVOCATE gathered that the ambulance that came to evacuate the remains of the suspected COVID-19 patient was attacked by some persons suspected to be the late man’s family members.

According to the source who spoke to us in confidence he said; “They attacked the ambulance that came to remove the corpse, threatening to burn it, maybe they were angry that the health status of their brother was revealed.

 

“The driver escaped with the ambulance and as I speak to you the chairman is making arrangements with the security agencies to send the team back,” he said.