NMA
The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) is inspecting the intentions of the Chinese medical team’s readiness to help Nigeria, even though countries all over the world are presently bleeding from the Coronavirus pandemic.
Nigeria hasn’t been left out in this with its record of four deaths sharing from the pains of losing about 59,245 people to the Coronavirus pandemic globally.
Up until the 3rd of April, Ondo state was without a case, and without any hands-on experience of dealing with the patients from the Coronavirus.
This though, has not stopped the Chairman of the Ondo State branch of Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Wale Oke, from issuing a statement against the plan of the Federal Government to get Chinese healthcare professionals to assist in the fight against the Coronavirus.
During a briefing of the presidential task force in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said medical experts, doctors Coronavirus, and nurses from China would arrive in a few days to aid in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The minister said this after the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu had said efforts to contain the virus in Nigeria were largely limited by finance.
In the statement from the NMA Ondo State Chairman, he made claims that the country was fully equipped with more than enough health practitioners needed in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
He also suggested an ulterior motive on the path of the Chinese health practitioners coming, citing that the death toll supposedly increased in Italy when the Chinese arrived to render help.
The Chairman said, “We have more than enough public health researchers in Nigeria who have not been harnessed before talking of Chinese importation.
“The number of infected persons in Nigeria is still under 250, with only four deaths. That means Nigerian is doing well, and we have been commended by different bodies, including, World Health Organisation (WHO).
“So why the need to import Chinese doctors when we have capable medical doctors in Nigeria. Our government should not undermine our efforts attacking the disease.”
” Nigerians should prevail on the government not to take such a decision which is not necessary at this time.
“Unverified claim also has it that it was when Chinese doctors got to Italy that they started having exponential deaths.”
These claims are undoubtedly going to be tested in the coming days, with the number of confirmed cases increasing daily. Other western countries are presently having their healthcare system stretched with the fight against Coronavirus.
It is our hope that the Chairman is right in putting his faith in the number of health practitioners we have in the country.