MSF Confirms Loss Of Staff To COVID-19 In Borno

An aid worker employed by humanitarian agency Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has died in Borno after contracting coronavirus, the organisation confirmed on Sunday.

HumAngle had earlier reported how an unnamed health official working with an international aid agency died at the Teaching Hospital two days after he was brought in from Gwoza local government in critically ill condition.

Medical personnel at the hospital said the patient who died in the Male medical ward was symptomatic.

Siham Hajaj, MSF Head of Mission (Nigeria), who confirmed the cause of death, said, “It is with profound sadness that I confirm the death of one of our colleagues.

“Our dear colleague died on April 18 and post mortem test results indicate that they were positive for COVID-19.

“MSF is now supporting the Ministry of Health with contact tracing,” Hajaj said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late on Sunday said it had recorded a cumulative total of 627 confirmed cases and 21 deaths – including one in Borno.

The deceased, Late Babangida Buba, was a retired nurse with the Hospital Management Board, Borno, who later joined MSF.

He worked with the organisation in Pulka and his death has created panic as it is the first official case of coronavirus in the state.

Buba was an anaesthetic nurse, and was rushed to Maiduguri from Pulka last week when his health condition degenerated.

Meanwhile, the Borno Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, Alhaji Usman Kadafur has called on the people not to panic, insisting that the case is under control.