Health professionals believe that people affected by claustrophobia will often go out of their way to avoid confined spaces, such as being kept in hospital isolation units.
Highly infectious diseases, such as Lassa fever, Monkey pox, Ebola, COVID-19, amongst others, require that the patients be isolated in a health facility while undergoing treatment to curb the spread of infections.
Patients of infectious diseases are often prone to claustrophobia, generally referred to as the irrational fear of confined spaces
But, many hospitals in Nigeria until the emergence of the coronavirus in 2020 could scarcely boast of an isolation centre, let alone equipping same.
In Benue State, the challenge of getting infectious disease patients to hospital isolation unit is twice harder than convincing them that their condition was devoid of spiritual attacks.
To curb the challenge and remain prepared for any future eventuality, the management of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi in Benue State took the bull by the horn.
The FMC in Makurdi now provides a home-away-from-home Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for claustrophobic patients.
Head of Clinical Services, disclosed that it lost 10 out of over 245 COVID-19 patients admitted in its ICU during the peak period.
Nearly 30 major projects were carried out in the last eight years.
Some of the projects executed include the renovated Accidents and Emergency unit, a mega theatre, molecular laboratory, nutrition block and an infectious disease control centre
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