The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has accused the country’s elite of exposing medical doctors to the dangerous Coronavirus, resulting in over 40 infections among healthcare practitioners.
In a statement signed jointly by Dr. Francis Faduyile and Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, President and Secretary General of the association, it was revealed that more than 40 medical doctors, along with other health workers, have contracted the virus. They emphasized that no healthcare worker was infected at Isolation Centers and instead pointed to private hospitals as the source of transmission.
The NMA appealed to all health workers to treat every patient as a potential COVID-19 case until proven otherwise, considering the refusal of some citizens to disclose important medical and travel information.
A section of the statement titled “As Nigeria hits the 4-Digit COVID-19 Incidence Figure: An Appeal to all Nigerians to help save the lives of Healthcare Professionals” reads, “So far, over 40 doctors and other healthcare workers have tested positive with three doctors and one nurse paying the ultimate price. This very disturbing and unsettling development comes against the unfolding scenario as reported in the media that some VIPs in the society are refusing to report to and be admitted at Isolation and Treatment centres for treatment, rather, prefer to stay at other non-accredited facilities.”
The Association perceives that by continued refusal to adhere to instructions, some citizens have vowed to make healthcare workers very vulnerable to contracting the disease. NMA wishes to re-iterate that none of the infected healthcare workers or those that died contracted the disease at an Isolation and Treatment Centre, but in general public and private health facilities while treating patients many of whom refused to disclose important medical/travel information that would have increased the suspicion and facilitate early diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.
NMA therefore appeals once again to government to expedite action on distributing PPEs to public and private hospitals without delay. We also remind our members all over the federation to consider everybody presenting at the hospital for any ailment as potential COVID-19 patient until proved otherwise. Our lives also matter!