Methane Scare: Ogun confirms all patients stable, discharged
The Ogun State Government has disclosed that all persons admitted at the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, following the recent chemical inhalation incident in some schools within the town, have been discharged after receiving medical attention and being certified fit by health personnel.
The Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, made this known during an engagement with parents, guardians and residents at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School on Saturday.
She stated that the state government would deploy ambulance crews to all wards in Ijebu-Ode to ensure prompt emergency response.
According to her, each ambulance would be staffed with a driver and a paramedic to respond swiftly to incidents in the area.
Dr. Coker also disclosed that the government had established a medical response protocol to ensure that any patient taken to secondary health facilities and requiring advanced care would be immediately transferred to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
“There were persons admitted at the Ijebu-Ode State Hospital and others at Ijebu-Ife who were affected by the methane emission. Altogether, we had adults and children admitted, and I am glad to say that all have been discharged. They are hale and hearty. Methane is a non-toxic gas; however, it competes with oxygen which our body and brain need to function properly, and that is why it is of concern to us.
“In mild concentrations, it may not produce symptoms, but moderate exposure can cause fatigue, rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it could lead to convulsion or unconsciousness, but we thank God that none of the patients recorded severe symptoms in the last 24 hours,” she said.
The commissioner urged residents not to panic in the event of any unusual occurrence, advising them to make use of the ministry’s emergency response line.
