…accuses him of resorting to self treatment
Anambra State Government said it was not aware of the health challenge of Provost of College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus, Prof Onochie Udemezue before his demise.
It said its officials only became aware after the professor had died.
Udemezue died about a week ago of diabetes and COVID-19-related complications.
In a memo to Governor Willie Obiano by a top government official, obtained by our correspondent, the state alleged that the body of the deceased was brought secretly to NAUTH when his case had become very bad, adding that it was not reported to the state government rapid response team.
It further accused the late professor of treating himself in his private clinic.
The memo read in part, “Professor Udemezue reasonably suspected that he was afflicted by COVID-19, but he chose to hide the illness from the hospital where he was working. He treated himself in his private hospital in Nnewi, his hometown.
“Self-treatment in a serious contagion like COVID-19 is a grave error. His private hospital is not designated for management of COVID-19 cases.
“It is regrettable that the Anambra State Government and its health bodies were not aware of Professor Udemezue’s health challenge. Government officials became aware after the professor had died. The professor was brought secretly to NAUTH when his case had become very bad, and it was not reported to the state government rapid response team.”
The memo revealed that half of the workers in the administrative department of the teaching hospital where Udemezue wife was working were in self-isolation.
It added that contact tracing at the College of health sciences had commenced.
