Reports have revealed the new findings and recommendations of the Nigerian Medical Association with regards to the recent upsurge in covid-19 fatalities. They have beckoned on the Federal Government to provide comprehensive life insurance in place for doctors and other health personnel that risk their lives in the line of duty.
Secondly, they have made important demands as well that the accuracy of the testing for the Corona virus should be improved upon.
Furthermore, due to frightening increase in numbers of infections recorded all over the country, the Organisation have requested for serious and adequate protection for its members both physically and financially.
The NMA emphasized the ugly fact that majority of doctors and other health workers who are in frontline working day and night to bring healing and succour to victims of this dreaded pandemic, are being paid abysmally low hazard allowance, and worst still is the fact that there are not enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available to doctors and other health workers in the risky discharge of their duties.
Dr Enema Amodu the chairman of NMA in FCT, disclosed this unpleasant scenario in a statement issued recently in the federation’s capital in Abuja.
He said, “Over the last few days, I have received several calls and messages on the 20 doctors that died across the country from the deadly Corona virus within a week. The focus seemed to have shifted away from the facts of the matter to the sensationalism now attached to it.
“The fact remains that doctors and other health workers are being paid abysmally low hazard allowance.
“There are not enough PPE’s available to doctors and other health workers in the frontline.
“The turnaround time and accuracy of the testing for the Corona virus should be improved upon.
“There should be comprehensive life insurance in place for doctors and other health personnel that risk their lives in the line of duty.
“Isolation centres should be properly equipped with drugs and personnel to manage cases as they come.
“This is a clarion call by the Nigerian doctors on behalf of her members and other colleagues in the frontline to protect us while we discharge our duties.
“The NMA wishes to appreciate the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari who has reacted to our cry and has promised to improve on the welfare packages of doctors; and also, the Honourable Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello who ensured the prompt payment of hazard allowance to FCT doctors.
“Once again, we mourn with our colleague’s family that have died. While we pray for their gallant souls to rest in peace, we also pray for those of us alive to remain so in good health.”
This disclosure by the health chairman calls for serious urgency because the nation can’t afford fatalities to health workers who are working so hard to alleviate the already precarious situation. Moreso the federal government should not risk the possibility of a strike action from he NMA at this point in time when their professional services and expertise is seriously needed at this particular point in time.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
