NMA berates Kogi, Cross River state over stance on COVID-19 testing

…Urges FG to investigate the two states

…Says, NCDC not using its powers

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has kicked against the stance of the Governments of Kogi and Cross River states to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines on testing of the Coronavirus disease otherwise referred to as COVID-19.

The medical body in a statement by its president Francis Faduyile, warned that the action by the two states could seriously imperil the whole national response to controlling the pandemic.

The statement titled “preparing for the worst case scenario insisted that the two states must follow the testing guidelines issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“The NMA vehemently decries the stance of the Governments of Kogi and Cross River states to NCDC’s advisory.

“While it would be welcome news for a ‘no-positive-case’ status in any state or FCT, every state must ensure that it is following the testing guideline issued by the NCDC.

“That way, no cases are missed, as that would seriously imperil the whole national response to controlling COVID-19 pandemic”, Faduyile stated.

The NMA, therefore, appealled to the Federal Government to direct through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to investigate the claims of the two state governments in the interest of safeguarding Nigeria’s Public Health, and to recommend appropriate remedial intervention (s) if necessary to Mr President.

While expressing worry that the NCDC has been unable to discharge these functions in some states of the Federation due to threats the NMA said, “the Act 2018 empowers the NCDC to lead the national response in disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. It is also to coordinate diverse kinds of feedback thereof.

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” Unfortunately, the NCDC has been unable to discharge these functions in some states of the Federation due to threats and in some instances, prevention from collecting and testing samples of suspected cases of COVID-19 by some states”.

On the shortage of test kits and difficulty in collecting samples despite the announced increased capacity of 50,000 samples per day in 21 laboratories in the country, the NMA balmed the problem on poor coordination, poor planning, poor forecasting and slow response to developments by the coordinating authorities.

“This depressing development saddens NMA because it will wipe away the efforts made so far by the Government, PTF and Nigerians in the public reaction against COVID-19 pandemic”, it said.

The body charged the PTF and the NCDC to find the fastest workable solutions to fix the challenge, including incorporating the approved private sector laboratories that already have established specimen pick up and transport modalities.