FMC Umuahia discharges first successfully treated COVID-19 victim as Ikpeazu warns of impending hardship

The Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia has successfully treated and discharged one of Abia State’s two confirmed victims of the coronavirus, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu disclosed on Friday.
Ikpeazu said the 72-year-old male patient, who had serious underlying medical conditions, was the oldest COVID-19 patient to be discharged in the South East and South South regions.
Confirming the discharge, FMC Medical Director, Azubuike Onyebuchi disclosed that the patient whose infection was confirmed in March, had shown marked clinical improvement and met the criteria for discharge. “I also wish to say that we will continue to respond accordingly to changes in dynamics of the pandemic. I wish to thank all involved in the successful management of our first patient, particularly our case management team for their sacrifice which shall not go unrewarded.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ikpeazu has warned workers in the state that the coming months will not be easy despite the health challenges already posed by the global pandemic COVID-19.
The governor, however, promised to keep the workforce fully appraised of the situation as it unfolds, in line with the policy of his administration on transparency and openness.
The Governor challenged workers to use the low-keyed celebrations of 2020, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic to evolve new methods and strategies to work under the emerging world order.
Ikpeazu also challenged the workforce to be in the Vanguard of the fight against the pandemic through vigorous public enlightenment and personal examples.
In a May Day statement by his chief press secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu thanked Abia workers especially those in the medical and other allied services for their sacrifices to the state and assured that their labors will not be in vain.
He said, “As the government begins to consider a re-assessment of the lockdown in the state our workforce must lead from the front in their conduct at the workplace by fully complying with all directives from the State Government”.
The Governor, who described workers as the engine room of the state, renewed the commitment of his administration to the welfare of workers even in the face of challenges.
Ikpeazu enjoined Abia workers to continue to give their best to the service of the state, assuring that the present tempo of giving attention to the payment of salaries and pensions would be sustained.