By Dipo Olowookere
The management of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has said it would investigate an allegation that one of its personnel was involved in the issuance of fake COVID-19 certificate to a traveller.
A new investigative platform founded by Mr ‘Fisayo Soyombo, Foundation for Investigative Journalism, had published a report written by one Adeola Oladipupo, alleging that an official of LASUTH connived with those at the Biosafety Laboratory, Yaba to give out fake COVID results to travellers.
But LASUTH distanced itself from the allegation, stressing that being a reputable public health organisation, it does not harbour such “nefarious elements.”
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the hospital, Ms Seyi Adewale, LASUTH maintained that, “Our staff comprises largely of highly disciplined and incorruptible men and women who will not engage in such nefarious activities as described in the report.”
“As a reputable tertiary institution, we are strongly averse such behaviour and we are focused on providing high-quality healthcare to the people of Lagos State and its environs,” it added.
However, the organisation promised to look into the matter as the “management has set up a high-powered panel” for this.
LASUTH noted that there could be the possibility of fraudsters parading as members of staff of the hospital, which could have been the person involved the alleged sale of the fake COVID-19 certificate.
“Our hospital is a public place and there is, therefore, no restriction whatsoever to entry and exit of human traffic. As a result, even though we try to watch out for heinous characters that really have no business in the hospital, it is usually a herculean task.
There are impostors who parade themselves as hospital workers, out to make quick money from unsuspecting victims. We strongly believe that the writer interacted with one of such touts.
Business Post reports that the federal government, due to the threat caused by coronavirus disease, requests that travellers obtain PCR COVID-19 test results before embarking on an international journey.
There are accredited centres where these tests are conducted but for a few persons who want to cut corners, they connive with health officials to get fake results for presentation when travelling.
Normally, these tests are only done at private laboratories accredited by the state government for a fee. The list of the laboratories can be found on https://www.lagosstatebiobank.com/home.
In the statement issued by LASUTH, it emphasised that, “Our hospital does not carry out COVID-19 tests. Free COVID-19 tests are done for suspects at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba; Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).”
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale