BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The management of Usman Danfodiyo University, Teaching Hospital, (UDUTH), Sokoto, has debunked reports alleging that there was an outbreak of a strange disease in the hospital which resulted to the death of some patients.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that an unverified audio clip making the rounds on social media had alleged that no fewer than 15 patients died from the strange disease outbreak at the teaching hospital.
In a swift reaction, The Chief Medical Director of UDUTH Sokoto, Prof Anas Ahmad Sabir, described the report as false and baseless, maintaining that the hospital is free from any outbreak or epidemic.
Prof. Sabir stated this in a statement issued to NATIONAL ACCORD on Sunday by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of UDUTH, Buhari Abubakar Sokoto.
He said: The attention of the management of UDUTH Sokoto has been drawn to an audio with unknown voice spreading information on the outbreak of a strange disease in UDUTH. The voice claimed the first victim of the disease was brought from a hospital in Kaduna and died after three days of treatment in the hospital.
“The audio also claimed additional fifteen patients died of the same disease.The claimant sited Garkuwa and Alu Ya Gode FM Radio stations as his source” .
“For the avoidance of doubt, the management of the hospital wish to make it categorically clear that, it has not up till this moment received any of such case from Kaduna or any where in the country. The hospital is free of any outbreak of disease or epidemic. Therefore, the said claim in the audio is totally false, baseless and mischievous””.
“To further set the record straight, UDUTH contacted the authorities of Garkuwa and Alu Ya Gode FM Radio stations and both of them said the purveyor of the fake disease outbreak news misquoted them as they never mentioned UDUTH in any of their reports.
“The general public should therefore note that while the hospital has nothing to hide, it also has standard protocol and capacity to manage emergencies any time it happens as it did during COVID- 19 pandemic and other outbreaks in the past.
“You are therefore advised to disregard such unverified information being spread by mischief makers whose motive was to generate tension and discomfort in the community.
“‘The Management of the hospital wish to further assure that the hospital environment is free of outbreak of any disease. Therefore, people should stay calm and turn deaf ears to the contrary”.
The CMD added that the management of UDUTH has contacted relevant security agencies to bring the carrier of such fake news to book.
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