Open AccessA national survey of hospital readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Dimie Ogoina,
Mahmood Dalhat,
Abisoye Oyeyemi,
Ogochukwu Chinedum Okoye,
Vivian Kwaghe,
Z G Habib,
Uche Unigwe,
Michael Iroezindu,
Musa A. Garbati,
Stella Rotifa,
Olukemi Adekanmbi,
Garba Iliyasu,
Farouq Muhammad Dayyab,
S. Ibrahim,
Ibrahim Musa Kida,
Adamu Adamu,
Datonye Alasia,
Sati Klein Awang,
John Oghenevwirhe Ohaju-Obodo,
Rabi Usman,
Yahaya Mohammed,
Ayanfe Omololu,
Ekaete Alice Tobin,
Okogbenin Sylvanus,
Danny Asogun,
I. Kelly,
Bala Waziri,
Aliyu Mamman Na’uzo,
Yusuf Bara Jibrin,
Abdulrazaq G. Habib
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0257567
Subject(s) - preparedness , pandemic , checklist , surge capacity , covid-19 , medicine , isolation (microbiology) , outbreak , welfare , health care , medical emergency , emergency medicine , environmental health , family medicine , psychology , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , virology , political science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , economics , cognitive psychology , biology , economic growth
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm health systems across the globe. We aimed to assess the readiness of hospitals in Nigeria to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Method Between April and October 2020, hospital representatives completed a modified World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 hospital readiness checklist consisting of 13 components and 124 indicators. Readiness scores were classified as adequate (score ≥80%), moderate (score 50–79.9%) and not ready (score <50%). Results Among 20 (17 tertiary and three secondary) hospitals from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, readiness score ranged from 28.2% to 88.7% (median 68.4%), and only three (15%) hospitals had adequate readiness. There was a median of 15 isolation beds, four ICU beds and four ventilators per hospital, but over 45% of hospitals established isolation facilities and procured ventilators after the onset of COVID-19. Of the 13 readiness components, the lowest readiness scores were reported for surge capacity (61.1%), human resources (59.1%), staff welfare (50%) and availability of critical items (47.7%). Conclusion Most hospitals in Nigeria were not adequately prepared to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Current efforts to strengthen hospital preparedness should prioritize challenges related to surge capacity, critical care for COVID-19 patients, and staff welfare and protection.