Chidi Samuel || One of the patients in Bayelsa State receiving treatment for monkeypox virus has committed suicide.
Professor Ebitimitula Etebu, the State Commissioner For Health confirmed the development in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Monday. that the patient was among 21 persons suspected to have been infected with the viral disease.
According to Etebu, the patient was among 21 persons suspected to have been infected with the viral disease and were being managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.
He said it was unfortunate that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.
The Commissioner, however, did not provide details of how the patient committed suicide.
He explained that the patient’s medical history did not suggest any mental illness or features of depression which could have explained why he committed suicide.
To identify what led the patient to take his life, the commissioner said a committee had been put in place to evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history to determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.
He added that the police and his family have been duly informed and all due diligence is being followed for the safe burial and sympathized with the family over their loss.
While confirming the outbreak of Monkeypox in the state, he, however, assured the general public again that the government is doing everything to contain the outbreak and ensure all patients receive appropriate care and treatment.