A medical doctor at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Saleh, has dismissed the widespread belief that patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) hardly survive, saying many critically ill patients recover and are discharged after treatment.
Dr Saleh, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Critical Care Nurses, spoke on Tuesday during activities marking this year’s World ICU Day at the hospital in Kano.
He said fear and misconceptions surrounding ICU admission often make families reluctant to allow patients to be transferred to the unit, a situation he described as dangerous.
“Many people believe that once a patient is admitted into the ICU, it means the person will eventually die. That is not true,” he said.
“A lot of patients admitted into the ICU recover after receiving adequate medical attention and are later discharged home in stable condition.”
According to him, the ICU is designed to provide specialised care and close monitoring for patients in critical condition, increasing their chances of survival when they are brought in early.
Dr Saleh also explained that relatives are usually not allowed to stay inside the ICU because trained health workers are responsible for monitoring and caring for patients around the clock.
“In the ICU, healthcare professionals take full responsibility for the care of the patients because they require constant monitoring and specialised attention,” he said.
He, however, noted that some patients still die in the ICU due to delays in seeking medical attention or transferring them to the unit at the appropriate time.
“Some of the deaths recorded in the ICU are linked to late admission. When patients are brought very late, after their condition has deteriorated significantly, it becomes more difficult to save them,” he explained.
He urged members of the public and healthcare workers to prioritise early referral of critically ill patients to intensive care units to reduce avoidable deaths.
World ICU Day is observed globally to raise awareness about the role of intensive care units and the importance of critical care services in hospitals.
