NMA condemns disregard for COVID-19 safety guidelines in Zamfara

The Nigerian Medical Association, Zamfara State branch, has decried the poor level of compliance with simple COVID-19 safety measures of keeping physical distancing, wearing of masks in public places, sanitation and personal hygiene by residents of the state.

Daily Times gathered that the Vice-Chairman of the association in the state, Dr. Mannir Bature said the non-compliance might affect ongoing efforts to keep the state free from the virus.

According to him, the state had its last record of a new COVID-19 case 17 days ago after recording 77 cases with five mortalities.

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Bature, said, “After recording 77 cases, there were measures in place to ensure that the people are protected. Presently, we do not have any COVID-19 case in the state. But after the ease of the lockdown, people started living their normal lives without adhering to the safety guidelines.

“So many people are not observing the non- pharmaceutical measures such as wearing face masks in public places and observing social distancing. If you go to many places in the state, people are not using face masks, they are not observing social distancing and other preventive measures.”

He pointed out that the observance of hygiene was poor, stressing that only a few places in the state have a handwashing point.

Bature, however, said government establishments have handing washing points while most private facilities do not have.

He, therefore, urged residents of the state to protect themselves against the virus by observing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control guidelines.

Before the latest concern in Zamfara state, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had expressed displeasure over the poor level of compliance with simple safety measures in public places, sanitation and personal hygiene nationwide.

The chairman of PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had at a recent PTF’s COVID-19 daily briefing in Abuja, listed the places where the non-compliance level was more prevalent to include markets, motor parks and some worship centres.

He insisted that utmost caution should be exercised across the country, stressing that the Federal Government would continue to implement measures meant to safeguard the health of Nigerians.