Easing lockdown will increase COVID-19 cases, MHWUN warns

…Calls for caution, stringent measures to reduce spread

The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said that the decision by the federal government to ease restriction of movement will bring about a dramatic increase in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.

The group in a statement made available to the Daily Times on Monday, said that it fears were premised on the experience of other countries where after the lockdown was relaxed, the spread of the disease became unimaginable.

The statement jointly signed by Biobelemoye Josiah, MHWUN national president and Silas Adamu, the general secretary, therefore, called on governments to put in place stringent measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

It said: “The MHWUN received with mixed feelings the recent pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari to gradually ease the COVID-19 lockdown which has since commence on May 4.

“MHWUN, being front lline workers in the fight against the dreaded disease, we are concerned that the easing of the lockdown will bring about dramatic increase in the number of new confirmed cases of CIVID-19 in the country.

“While we commend the efforts of the federal government for the steps so far taken in the fight against the disease, we call for caution and stringent measures to ensure that the decision to ease the lock down does not take us back to level zero where new cases will spring up to the extent that the hitherto weak, and further weakened health system and ill-motivated health workers will be overwhelmed.

“This certainly will be disastrous. MHWUN therefore, advice the federal and state governments to make available more testing (including rapid test kits) and isolation centres to accommodate more people in case the unwanted happens.

“They (governments) also need to provide large quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other consumables to health workers at all levels to enable them do their work professionally.

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“This is important because the health worker is not on a kamikaze mission, hence must be alive and healthy before he/she can save other lives.

“Our members at all levels need to be carried along and be involved in all decision making processes so that they can make input as well as feedback to members in real time,” it stated.

The group further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate compassion, commitment and appreciation of the sacrifices of the health workers by ordering the release of all withheld salaries of health workers especially, the ones for the month of April and May 2018.

“For all federal health institutions, all salaries (several months) owed workers, especially in Federal Medical Centre Owerri, JUTH and LUTH.

“All state and local governments to implement the new minimum wage (CONHESS),” it added.