Covid-19: NMA caution FG against easing of lockdown now

…Says, it is premature in the face of rising infection

By Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has cautioned federal government against its decision to ease the restriction of movement earlier imposed on Lagos, Ogun and FCT from May 4, saying, it is premature in the face of rising infection.

Expressing worry over the increase in confirmed cases of COVID 19 in the country, the NMA called on government to learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced a 100% increase in infection rate in one week.

This was contained in an Advisory against the spike trend in the curve jointly signed by the NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile and the Secretary, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote.

The medical body therefore called on agencies of State to intensify efforts through mass enlightenment campaigns beyond current attempts to explain the dangers inherent in easing the lockdown prematurely in the face of rising infection rates.

We appreciate the efforts of State and non-State operators on their efforts so far, but urge them to do more”, the NMA said.

The Association described the directive by the Bauchi State Governor for the use of a specific drug in the treatment of positive cases as improper and unethical.

“Medical doctors have the prerogative to use whatever treatment regimen they consider best based on evidence and presentation of the patients.

We, therefore, implore our leaders to desist from distracting our time tested doctors and health workers.

“Instead, they should encourage them through the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), incentives, and communication tools to interact with peers within the country and overseas as it is customary in the world of medical science to arrive at the best possible interventions for their patients”, it added.

While describing as unfortunate that about 113 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) in Nigeria were reportedly infected with COVID-19, the NMA urged all doctors and other health workers not to let down their guards in adhering strictly to Infection Prevention and Control protocols.

They called on all HCWs to always wear the proper PPE before attending to any patient as every patient is a potential COVID-19 patient.

NMA also expressed dismay the delay in distributing the available PPE to all public and private hospitals to prevent, detect and treat more patients as it ought to, adding that, the burgeoning bureaucracy will not be a clog in the wheels of progress.

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“We wish that the “Panel of Experts” recently inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Health is empowered to immediately commence their work of thinking, analyzing, synthesizing, collating, and disseminating the most relevant medical information that informs the best management of our COVID-19 patients. Science and knowledge must inform policies and politics.

“We appreciate the FMOH for finally listening to the plea we made several weeks ago. We wish the nation and our people the safety and protection from COVID-19 while praying the authorities to continue to carry out all necessary and more invigorated knowledge-based interventions towards a zero COVID-19 Nigeria, the NMA added.

We wish the nation and our people the safety and protection from COVID-19 while praying the authorities to continue to carry out all necessary and more invigorated knowledge-based interventions towards a zero COVID-19 Nigeria”.