#Coronavirus: Comedian Sydney Talker calls out NCDC for refusing to test him despite Covid-19 symptoms

Nigerian comedian Sydney Talker has taken to his Twitter handle to share his alleged experience with the NCDC.

“I was rushed to a private hospital where I was rejected because of my symptoms and was referred to the Mainland Hospital (formerly Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos), ” Sydney tweets.

According to Sydney, his case was dismissed as common cold because according to them, his symptoms and possible contacts did not fit the case of a possible COVID-19 infection based on his travel history and known contacts.

He said that while he he had taken the prescribed medications by doctors for cold, his symptoms had only gotten worse and he has been advised by doctors to get a Covid-19 test, yet the NCDC has so far refused to give him one.

He also claimed that the NCDC dismisses his concern as a comedy skit.

Read the thread below:

Good afternoon everyone.

I'm sharing my personal experience with our failed healthcare system especially on its inability to respond promptly to this COVID-19 epidemic.#TheAverageNigerian #FailedHealthCare #FailedHealthCareSystem

/1

— SYDNEY ? (@sydney_talker) March 27, 2020

“A week ago, I came down with some symptoms similar to that of COVID-19. I tried the
@NCDCgov hotlines several times for about 2 days before I got a response stating that since I have not started showing ALL signs & symptoms plus I have no recent international travel history—

/2

“—or contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient I wouldn’t be attended to.

I took to Twitter later that day expressing my displeasure for the response I got and most people including the
@NCDCgov
dismissed it as a skit or probably an attention-seeking video.

/3

“My symptoms continued to persist and I reached out to the @LSMOH through the hotlines all to no avail before contacting them on Twitter via @08000CORONA where I got a call the following morning.

/4

“I was told to get a cough syrup and mix lemon in hot water and take these liquids every morning and evening.

I carried out these practices for 2 days with a little relief or so I thought, up until yesterday where I had serious difficulty breathing.

/5

“I was rushed to a private hospital where I was rejected because of my symptoms and was referred to the Mainland Hospital (Formerly Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos).

/6

“Upon my arrival at the Mainland Hospital, the doctors on ground reluctantly attended to the case after questioning me.

/7

“Some of the doctors dismissed it almost immediately stating that the signs and symptoms plus possible confirmed contact did not fit the profile of a COVID 19 case.

/8

“A sample was eventually collected for testing after we insisted on NOT leaving without a test being carried out. While the test was ongoing 2 persons were immediately admitted into the Isolation Ward based on the fact that they had possible contact with a confirmed case.

/9

“We were later referred again from the Mainland Hospital to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for medical examination.

On getting to LUTH we were halted at the entrance of the Accident & Emergency Ward and told to wait outside.

/10

“We were questioned from a distance on the symptoms I was experiencing.

After questioning, the doctor said this was a possible case of COVID 19 and referred us back to Mainland Hospital Yaba stating that they do not have adequate gear and facilities to handle such a case.

/11

“All these took place within the hours of 11pm and 5am while I was still having difficulty breathing, dry cough and my hands and feet were numb.

/12

“We eventually decided to head back home as there was no HOPE in sight of being attended to. We placed a call across to a Nigerian trained Consultant based in the US who prescribed some medications to subdue the symptoms and instructed us to carry out certain tests.

/13

“I’ll be going live on Instagram tomorrow morning by 9:00 am to give a proper account of everything that happened yesterday night.

#TheAverageNigerian
#FailedHealthCareSystem #FailedHealthCare

/14”

Following the series of allegations, the NCDC took to their official Twitter handle to state that they had contacted the person and it was informed that it was a comedy skit. However, Sydney refuted the claim. He said he had not been contacted by the NCDC.

We received several messages & calls, over an Instagram video. The individual was said to be very sick & reported that NCDC did not respond.

We have reached out to him and he said what he did was a SKIT. He is well

Pls respect the call and message lines. Do not spread panic pic.twitter.com/RoCp84zk6E

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 26, 2020

Sydney didn’t hesitate to retweet and call them liars. According to Sydney, he didn’t get any call from them.

What kind of lie is this????? you didn’t reach out to me and I wasn’t doing a skit. Please all I want is to be tested because the symptoms get worse by the day https://t.co/Crgs2ucIZK

— SYDNEY ? (@sydney_talker) March 27, 2020

He went further to state that he only wanted to get tested as he was scared for himself and his loved ones.

I’m scared for my loved ones around me. All I need are answers to understand my predicament and how an average nigerian can solve this same situation am currently experiencing
Please Help an average Nigerian @ncdcgov get tested#theaveragenigerian #failedhealthcaresystem pic.twitter.com/xh5zpsEiwa

— SYDNEY ? (@sydney_talker) March 27, 2020

For everyone in doubt of the thread I posted, here are videos of my experience yesterday. From a private hospital at lekki to Mainland hospital to Lagos University Teaching Hospital without results. pic.twitter.com/AdQizBlaYB

— SYDNEY ? (@sydney_talker) March 27, 2020