The Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, confirmed the unfortunate passing of a Nigerian medical doctor who resided in Italy due to COVID-19.
Olumide Okunuga, a 63-year-old Nigerian doctor living in Italy, reportedly contracted the virus in Canada and passed away recently.
During a morning press conference, Minister Mamora addressed the doctor’s death and refuted speculations claiming that the virus spares individuals of African descent.
“We must be wary of becoming complacent; the consequences of complacency are significant. I have heard individuals suggest that the genetics of Black people provide resistance against COVID-19, making it not applicable to us. However, we need to remember that even Black individuals from Africa, including Nigeria, have tragically lost their lives. We have heard of the case of a doctor who resided in Italy, a Nigerian, a Black man.
Therefore, we should exercise caution. While there is a considerable amount of knowledge about COVID-19, there is still much that remains unknown. We need to be cautious in accepting claims that have not yet been fully validated,” he remarked.
In response to requests for the government to disclose the identity of the Italian man who served as the index case of the disease in Nigeria, Mamora explained that such an action would violate the patient confidentiality clause which is designed to afford the patient protection.
“If you recall the case of the Nigerian doctor who lived in Italy but passed away in Canada or similar circumstances, his daughter was called upon to identify him from a distance,” Mamora noted.