The National Medical Association has described the attitude of
the Kogi state government on COVID-19 issues in the state as “both
ignorantly meddlesome and irresponsible.”
The state government has contended that it has no COVID-19 cases
despite the reporting of two cases by the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control on Wednesday.
In an appearance on Channels Television Politics Today on
Thursday, Kogi state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley
Fanwo, described the NCDC reporting process as fraudulent.
In a statement on Friday co-signed by the NMA President, Francis
Faduyile, the NMA said it was disturbed by the Commissioner’s
comments which cast aspersions on frontline health workers and the
NCDC on live television.
“His use of profane words is capable of demoralising the
exemplary gold-winning health workers and the untiring NCDC, which
possibly can lead to a national catastrophe,” the statement
read.
The medical association appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari
to intervene in the situation and call the state government to
order as “we believe” COVID-19 “is gaining a serious foothold in
the State.”
“This order may include citing testing facilities in the Army
Barracks or any secured location free from the encumbrances posed
by the State government,” the NMA said.
Read the NMA’s full statement here:
Greetings from the NMA National Secretariat, Abuja.
Find below and attached Press Release from the NMA.
Many thanks
SAVE KOGI PEOPLE NOW TO AVERT AN AVOIDABLE CATASTROPHE: AN SOS
TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES,
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR CONCERNING KOGI STATE’S HANDLING OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
The COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world has necessitated
several extreme measures instituted to prevent and contain the
outbreak. On Wednesday, May 27th 2020, the disease was confirmed on
two indigenes of Kogi State. One of the patients said to be a known
community, and religious leader referred from the Federal Medical
Centre Lokoja was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the National Hospital
Abuja.
It is not in doubt that Coronavirus disease is in Nigeria. As at
Thursday, May 28th 2020, a total of 8915 Nigerians have contracted
the disease diagnosed through a standardised testing process while
259 died, yet some people are still in doubt that COVID-19 is
real.
The Nigerian Medical Association has repeatedly called on all
Nigerians to avail the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
an agency of government established by an Act of the National
Assembly unimpeded access and assistance to render its duties. The
Kogi State government stoutly resisted this advisory to the dismay
of our Association. The State government need reminding that the
NCDC is empowered to “prevent, detect, monitor and control”
activities and programs for the national response against
infectious disease epidemics and other public health emergencies;
and also, to “lead, develop, coordinate” these activities in the
country.
Kogi State government especially has hardened its heart and
ensured that the Kogi people remain in the dark, untested. The
people are therefore undiagnosed and untreated even though COVID-19
epidemiologic pattern has 80% of cases that present with none or
very mild symptoms yet shedding the virus in their airway and
innocently infecting others who may become sicker and die. The
identification of these cases is through testing, according to
standardised protocols.
We are incredibly disturbed by the response of the Kogi State
government through the State Commissioner of Information. The
Commissioner not only described the process of arriving at the
diagnosis as fraudulent, but he also went on to smear the frontline
Health workers and the NCDC on live national television. His use of
profane words is capable of demoralising the exemplary gold-winning
health workers and the untiring NCDC, which possibly can lead to a
national catastrophe.
The implied consequences of these unbecoming actions are what
the Nigerian Medical Association condemns. The attitude of the Kogi
State government is both ignorantly meddlesome and irresponsible.
It is a demonstration of undisguised hatred against the people it
swore to protect and nurture.
The Association, therefore, appeals to President Muhammadu
Buhari to call the State Governor and his officials to order
immediately. He may issue an order granting unfettered access and
protection to NCDC officials into Kogi State and do all that is
necessary to contain COVID-19 which we believe is gaining a serious
foothold in the State. This order may include citing testing
facilities in the Army Barracks or any secured location free from
the encumbrances posed by the State government.
This advisory has become necessary even as the nation is
considering the further easing of the lockdown given the fact that
Kogi State borders eleven (11) other states of the Federation and
Lokoja, the State capital, a significant road transport
interchange. We remind Nigerian citizens to take personal
responsibility for their safety and protection from COVID-19 now
than ever before.
We restate that on no account should healthcare professionals at
any health facility in Kogi state or elsewhere be harassed or
intimidated on account of rendering avowed services as it relates
to appropriate management of COVID-19 patients. We call on our time
tested colleagues and other health workers to continue to perform
their functions, and strongly advise them to protect themselves
first before treating and saving others.
Signed:
DR. Francis A. Faduyile Dr. Odusote P. Olumuyiwa
President Secretary General
Akpa .E. Chukwuemeka, B.A (Hons), ICDL, MIPHF, AJHU (Cert, UK),
MNIM, MPA (Nig)
Head of Administration
Nigerian Medical Association
8 Benghazi Street, Off Addis Ababa Crescent,
Wuse Zone 4,
Abuja
The National Medical Association has described the attitude of
the Kogi state government on COVID-19 issues in the state as “both
ignorantly meddlesome and irresponsible.”
The state government has contended that it has no COVID-19 cases
despite the reporting of two cases by the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control on Wednesday.
In an appearance on Channels Television Politics Today on
Thursday, Kogi state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley
Fanwo, described the NCDC reporting process as fraudulent.
In a statement on Friday co-signed by the NMA President, Francis
Faduyile, the NMA said it was disturbed by the Commissioner’s
comments which cast aspersions on frontline health workers and the
NCDC on live television.
“His use of profane words is capable of demoralising the
exemplary gold-winning health workers and the untiring NCDC, which
possibly can lead to a national catastrophe,” the statement
read.
The medical association appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari
to intervene in the situation and call the state government to
order as “we believe” COVID-19 “is gaining a serious foothold in
the State.”
“This order may include citing testing facilities in the Army
Barracks or any secured location free from the encumbrances posed
by the State government,” the NMA said.
Read the NMA’s full statement here:
Greetings from the NMA National Secretariat, Abuja.
Find below and attached Press Release from the NMA.
Many thanks
SAVE KOGI PEOPLE NOW TO AVERT AN AVOIDABLE CATASTROPHE: AN SOS
TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES,
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR CONCERNING KOGI STATE’S HANDLING OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
The COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world has necessitated
several extreme measures instituted to prevent and contain the
outbreak. On Wednesday, May 27th 2020, the disease was confirmed on
two indigenes of Kogi State. One of the patients said to be a known
community, and religious leader referred from the Federal Medical
Centre Lokoja was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the National Hospital
Abuja.
It is not in doubt that Coronavirus disease is in Nigeria. As at
Thursday, May 28th 2020, a total of 8915 Nigerians have contracted
the disease diagnosed through a standardised testing process while
259 died, yet some people are still in doubt that COVID-19 is
real.
The Nigerian Medical Association has repeatedly called on all
Nigerians to avail the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
an agency of government established by an Act of the National
Assembly unimpeded access and assistance to render its duties. The
Kogi State government stoutly resisted this advisory to the dismay
of our Association. The State government need reminding that the
NCDC is empowered to “prevent, detect, monitor and control”
activities and programs for the national response against
infectious disease epidemics and other public health emergencies;
and also, to “lead, develop, coordinate” these activities in the
country.
Kogi State government especially has hardened its heart and
ensured that the Kogi people remain in the dark, untested. The
people are therefore undiagnosed and untreated even though COVID-19
epidemiologic pattern has 80% of cases that present with none or
very mild symptoms yet shedding the virus in their airway and
innocently infecting others who may become sicker and die. The
identification of these cases is through testing, according to
standardised protocols.
We are incredibly disturbed by the response of the Kogi State
government through the State Commissioner of Information. The
Commissioner not only described the process of arriving at the
diagnosis as fraudulent, but he also went on to smear the frontline
Health workers and the NCDC on live national television. His use of
profane words is capable of demoralising the exemplary gold-winning
health workers and the untiring NCDC, which possibly can lead to a
national catastrophe.
The implied consequences of these unbecoming actions are what
the Nigerian Medical Association condemns. The attitude of the Kogi
State government is both ignorantly meddlesome and irresponsible.
It is a demonstration of undisguised hatred against the people it
swore to protect and nurture.
The Association, therefore, appeals to President Muhammadu
Buhari to call the State Governor and his officials to order
immediately. He may issue an order granting unfettered access and
protection to NCDC officials into Kogi State and do all that is
necessary to contain COVID-19 which we believe is gaining a serious
foothold in the State. This order may include citing testing
facilities in the Army Barracks or any secured location free from
the encumbrances posed by the State government.
This advisory has become necessary even as the nation is
considering the further easing of the lockdown given the fact that
Kogi State borders eleven (11) other states of the Federation and
Lokoja, the State capital, a significant road transport
interchange. We remind Nigerian citizens to take personal
responsibility for their safety and protection from COVID-19 now
than ever before.
We restate that on no account should healthcare professionals at
any health facility in Kogi state or elsewhere be harassed or
intimidated on account of rendering avowed services as it relates
to appropriate management of COVID-19 patients. We call on our time
tested colleagues and other health workers to continue to perform
their functions, and strongly advise them to protect themselves
first before treating and saving others.
Signed:
DR. Francis A. Faduyile Dr. Odusote P. Olumuyiwa
President Secretary General
Akpa .E. Chukwuemeka, B.A (Hons), ICDL, MIPHF, AJHU (Cert, UK),
MNIM, MPA (Nig)
Head of Administration
Nigerian Medical Association
8 Benghazi Street, Off Addis Ababa Crescent,
Wuse Zone 4,
Abuja