- COVID 19 is a term used to denote Corona virus disease which manifested in the year 2019 by World Health Organization (WHO). Corona virus is a seasonal virus that thrives in the cold weather. In Gombe state Nigeria, the coldest season is the harmattan weather which starts from November to February. This weather is associated with increase infections like cold, catarrh, feve,r asthma and recently COVID 19. The symptoms of these diseases include sneezing, coughing, and running nose. COVID 19 spreads through droplets from the nose of an infected person. Preventive measures against this disease include regular washing of hands, physical distancing, and the use of face mask in public places. The World Health Organization declared the disease a pandemic that has affected the human population. Health care professionals became challenged by the increase in demand for health care. The challenge became worse due to fear of contacting the disease in the process of health care delivery, stigma and discrimination associated with working in COVID isolation center. This impacted health care professionals physically and psychologically. They became more vulnerable to COVID 19 infection than the general public due to frequent contact with the affected individuals. The study found out low level of morbidity among health care professionals in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe with one death of a physician. This was largely achieved due to training and motivation given to health care professionals working in the isolation center and within the hospital, funding support from government, and prompt response given to suspected cases with in the hospital. The study also found out medical supplies like ventilators, test kits, drugs and health care personnel were inadequate in the isolation center. Thus the study recommends adequate staffing and supplies of medical equipment’s in the isolation center for prompt response to outbreak of contagious diseases like COVID 19. In addition the Federal Teaching Hospital is a dynamic institution that requires researches to highlight prospects and challenges facing the medical profession for positive changes. In this context, there is need for adequate enlightenment among health care professionals and hospital staff to cooperate and respond to researchers with interest in health and illness situation once ethical clearance is obtained from the management of the hospital.

Keywords : Health, Disease, virus, Health care professional, COVID 19, Stigma, Discrimination, Morbidity, Mortality