Health workers seek establishment of more isolation centres in Ekiti

Following reported increase of coronavirus cases in Ekiti state, the coalition of Health Professional Associations and Unions have called for immediate decentralisation of isolation centre built in Ado Ekiti.

The workers said the upsurge in the number of active cases at the 10-bed isolation centre was terrifying, saying it would be appropriate to establish more centres at the Ekiti state University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti and the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, as precautionary measures.

The health practitioners appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi, to domesticate the agreements reached by their colleagues with the federal government on payment of new hazard allowances and insurance cover for medical workers, to serve as morale booster.

These were contained in a statement by the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti state chapter, Dr. Tunji Omotayo, on Tuesday.

Worried by the increasing spread of the pandemic and its backlash on medical workers, Omotayo said: “we salute the government for upgrading the facilities at the state isolation centre, urgent efforts are needed to provide additional isolation centres in the tertiary health institutions in the state.

“Owing to the availability of specialist cadre practitioners, emergency and the intensive care units of these tertiary hospitals must function at full capacity at this time.”

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Palliatives must reach all needy Nigerians – Gbajabiamila

Omotayo added that the disparity in emoluments between state and federal healthcare workers in the state is not a good recipe to boost morale.

“Full domestication of the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the federal government and healthcare workers for their Ekiti state counterparts will be a timely morale booster.

“Payment of outstanding salaries at this time would also restore faith and confidence in the system”.

The NMA state chairman said as much as his members were resolute to defeat the COVID-19 scourge, howeever, stated that the provision of appropriate preventive equipment in the management of COVID-19 cases is non-negotiable.

Omotayo appealed to security agencies enforcing the lockdown directive to always allow his members, whose families reside in neighbouring states to visit them without molestation.

“We have received complaints of harrasment while transiting the state boundary axis. We request that they be granted passage on presentation of valid identifications.

“As the novel disease festers, healthcare professionals in general and doctors in particular have not been exempted and the enormity of the scourge has dawned on us,” he added.