LUTH reacts to report that man who tested positive for coronavirus was denied treatment

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, has reacted to the report that a man who tested positive for coronavirus, was sent away and denied treatment over a lack of bed space at the hospital.

According to an earlier report by SaharaReporters, the patient, Emmanuel Benson, had claimed he tested positive for Coronavirus at LUTH on March 21, but was said to have been told by a medical personnel that there was no space for him at the hospital and advised that he goes home.

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, has now reacted to the story on Twitter, stating that the report “appears to be concocted.”

See their full statement below;

“Although this story appears to be concocted, there is a need to put things in proper perspective:

1. LUTH is presently NOT a treatment centre for COVID-19. The protocol demands that all confirmed cases are referred to Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.

2. “Long queue in LUTH waiting to be tested for Corona” is a figment of the imagination of the writer. There is no such thing happening in LUTH.

We therefore appeal with the general public to disregard the story.

We urge them to stay safe during this trying period and obey government directives on COVID-19 pandemic.”