Umahi’s aides speak on recovery from COVID-19

Two government officials in Ebonyi state have recovered from COVID-19.

Daniel Umezurike, the state commissioner for health, confirmed the discharge of the two government aides after they tested negative twice for the virus.

The aides, Ogbonnaya Chukwu, the state commissioner for finance, and Clement Nweke, principal secretary to the governor, in separate statements on Monday, urged residents to take issues concerning the disease seriously.

Chukwu, who said he was on life support, explained he had a divine encounter while infected with COVID-19.

“It should be mentioned that while I walked through the valley of death’s shadow, I saw no evil because the Lord God was with me,” Chukwu said.

“A man in white apparel appeared to me on June 1 and squeezed my stomach hard, saying that this sickness would not be unto death.

“I was on life support and my stomach rumbled for a while.”

He said on June 2, the governor took over with words of encouragement.

“He momentarily took over my management with the Chief Medical Director of the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) and other health professionals,” he said.

“The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) ministers, led by Dr Paul Enenche, also stood in the gap and called on the God of heaven and earth.

“God’s mercy prevailed over judgment, and I am going home with a clean bill of health, having been certified COVID-19 negative.”

The commissioner also thanked his family and colleagues, among others, for their prayers and support, adding that COVID-19 was not a death sentence.

On his part, Nweke said he walked out of the state’s isolation centre to join his family after spending 10 days in the facility.

He thanked the governor for his “rapid response” to his case and for his foresight in establishing and equipping the state’s virology centre in Abakaliki.

“I had repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19 after being taken to the isolation centre on May 29,” he said.

“I had taken responsibility and requested to be tested for COVID-19, following a confirmed test of acute ‘plus-three’ malaria and pneumonia.

“One could have imagined the difficulty that infected Ebonyi people would have faced if their samples were to be taken to Irrua in Edo for testing or treatment.”

Following the report that some members of the state executive council had contracted the disease, David Umahi, the governor, ordered the closure of all government offices for fumigation.

He also ordered government officials in the ministries of finance and budget to undergo COVID-19 test within seven days.