By SIMON NDIVE KALLA
There is currently a wind of panic across the city of Limbe, following the announcement by Public Health Minister that there is a confirmed coronavirus case in the city of Limbe, South West region of Cameroon.
On Sunday, March 29, 2020, Dr Manaouda Malachie announced that Douala recorded 13 positive out of 72 tested cases and Limbe 1 out of 2, making it 14 positive additional cases, thus increasing the current rate in the country to 113.
Speaking to The SUN in an exclusive chat after the tweet of the Minister of Public Health, the Director of the Limbe Regional Hospital, Dr. Kinge Thompson Njie narrated that “on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, a case was announced of a 54-year old man with a travel history from UK in the past two weeks. The man presented himself in one of the clinics in town with signs of cough, general body weakness, fever and difficulty in breathing.”
Dr. Kinge Thompson added that it was the wish of the doctor of the clinic for the Regional Hospital Mile I to quarantine the patient, which he requested the patient be quarantined in the Hospital but it was not possible because of space at the time in the hospital.
“So the patient stayed at home until Thursday because the information got to us late on Wednesday evening. So we decided that on Thursday he should be evacuated to Douala to increase his chances of survival if at all he has COVID-19.”
He added that there was already a 26- year old boy who too had presented with symptoms of COVID-19 though lower than those of the 54-year-old.
The Regional Hospital Boss furthered that the 54 – year-old man said on Thursday that he wants to prepare himself well before going to Douala. But on Thursday afternoon, a delegation of health personnel, was sent with examination kits which one was used for the 26- year-old at the intensive unit and the other was invited from home and a test was conducted on him.
While the management of the Limbe Regional Hospital Mile I took a decision to release the 26- year-old boy to quarantine him at home while the 54 – year-old took his room and stay for some hours before going back home to prepare himself to go to Douala.
Dr. Kinge Thompson revealed that, on Friday morning they prepared the ambulance which finally transported him to Douala. He confirmed the 54-year-old is the confirmed COVID-19 case.
“It’s true the COVID-19 is in Limbe; we have identified a case at the Regional Hospital Mile I Limbe, those people who didn’t believe that coronavirus is in Cameroon and Limbe in particular should now respect the instructions by the Prime Minister, they should stay at home, behave as if they are already infected…” Dr. Kinge Thompson said.
He however announced that the District Medical Officer, DMO has taken an assignment to identify all those people the confirmed case was in close contact with, so they too can be tested.