Covid-19

COVID-19: What FG must do to avoid another lockdown

Published

3 years ago

November 8, 2020

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) wants the Federal Government to ensure stricter compliance with extant COVID-19 preventive measures and protocols by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) following the resurgence of the infection across the globe.

President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah hopes “government is ready with appropriate response because they have been predicting the second wave.

Ujah who spoke on Saturday said: “How much have we complied with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols of using face masks, hand washing and social distancing. On all counts we have failed.

“The public is not supporting the government in this regard, and I also think that some officers of government are engendering this lawless attitudes of Nigerians because leadership is by example.

“This gives them the impression that covid-19 does not exist; because if it exists, officers of government show be able to comply with the NCDC protocols.

Confidence must be built because it is a public health issue, and I believe that if the officials comply, then others will comply. Apart from airlines and probably banks that insists that you must wear a face mask otherwise you will not be allowed in.

“This is also in religious centres. But it is no longer about wearing mask masks, but the appropriate wearing of face masks. A person not properly using the mask will not protect himself and others around him. Appropriate use of face masks is a challenge. Another is that we are not even complying with the rules.”

Also, the immediate past President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), and current Chairman of the NMA Kaduna chapter, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, said: “It should have become clear and evident by now that for whatever reasons, the pandemic is not manifesting here as it does in other parts of the world. This is a reality we must admit. This may be attributable to either genetic makeup of our people or some form of variations or mutations that is responsible for us not coming down with the disease.

“A lot of our decisions are based on what is obtainable in other parts of the world, when we clearly know that what is obtainable there may not be applicable here, as evidenced by what we have seen.

“I want to believe that the second wave is coming and we also need to realise that for some reason or the other, we are not getting it, and we should be grateful for that. A lot of people have gotten the disease without even knowing and have recovered and moved on with their lives. I won’t advocate for any lockdown or any of any of such measures especially in this part of the world.”

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on covid-19, Boss Mustapha warned, last week,of an imminent resurgence in the number of new cases as the country’s air travel intensifies, schools and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reopening, and the lack of compliance with safety protocols like handwashing/sanitising, maintaining social distance, wearing of face masks, and avoidance of mass gatherings.

“The PTF continues to monitor situations around the world and will continue to draw your attention to the rising number of cases. Global cases crossed the 46 million mark with USA, India and Brazil accounting for 50 percent of all global cumulative burden,” he said.