The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday disclosed that
at least 20 doctors have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the last
one week.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
It therefore urged the general public to adhere strictly to the
non-pharmaceutical protocols of hand washing, sanitizing, properly
wearing face masks, and maintaining social distancing. It also
urged patients to ensure full disclosure of medical history of
COVID-19 or COVID-19 related occurrences, so that health workers
can better protect themselves while providing quality health care
services.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The Association further decried the paltry sum of N5, 000 paid
monthly to doctors as hazard allowance, calling on the government
to ensure an upward review of their welfare packages
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), FCT
Chapter, Dr. Enema Amodu, made this known during a briefing in
Abuja.
He said, “Everywhere around the world at this time, we are
facing a second wave, and this second wave is so overwhelming and
more catastrophic because a lot of people have gone back to the way
of doing things thinking that the virus is over, and it is gone and
they have let their guards down.
“For those of us in the health sector, we have lost quite a
number of colleagues in the last one week alone. Across the nation,
we have lost professors, consultants, residents (both senior and
junior), very senior medical officers and nurses – some of them you
may not hear of and some you may hear depending on the
circumstances and whatever positions they are occupying. This goes
to show that this virus is very much with us and they call it a
second wave, but it is actually a continuum because it never really
left us.
“I am here this afternoon on Christmas Day to solidarise first
with the families of our members that have lost loved ones. I want
to make it public that we are with you in this very trying and
grieving moment of sadness over the loss of our colleagues who most
likely are the breadwinners of their families. We also want to use
this opportunity to talk to our patients; when you come to us in
the hospitals and clinics, please oblige us and wear your mask.
Tell us the truth about your past medical condition and don’t hold
any information back.
“The figure of the number of our colleagues that have died is
evolving everyday but as I am standing here, I got a call from a
colleague who is in an isolation centre, and he is not sounding
very good. I can give you a figure now that by evening it will
change. But I can tell you from the top of my head across the
country, we have lost not less than 20 doctors in the last one
week.
By the grace of God, I am standing here today as a survivor
because as an ENT consultant, I inadvertently saw a patient that I
did not know had COVID-19 and she did not tell me, and she knew. I
was exposed and contracted the virus; I developed symptoms but by
the grace of God my colleagues rallied around me and I
survived.
“Our patients need to follow the laid-down rules and we are not
degrading or insulting anybody. As you enter the hospital premises,
most hospitals now have facilities for you to wash your hands and
ensure that you wear your mask – please comply. Also, when you sit
with a doctor, ensure you keep a safe distance.”
Amodu added: “The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has
not rested on his oars since this pandemic broke out. I was
privileged to be part of a team that went to see the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Dr. Femi Gbajabiamila. The President put
forward the issue of our hazard allowance. There is no need to hide
anything anymore. I can tell you that our hazard allowance is N5,
000 per month. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has
assured my President that they will do something about it and we
believe he will do something about it because he is a legislator
that believes that the health sector is key to development.
“Our members are dying and my colleagues are suffering and
angry. But we have taken an oath and that is why we are still
providing services, and we will continue to provide services. We
just asked the government to do their own bit and help us so that
we can change the narrative of the health sector.
“We hope that the government will start off the new year with a
reviewed hazard allowance. But I am not oblivious of the processes
for it to be gazette and captured in our salaries and wages. We
expect that the government will expedite action because we need
this show of solidarity from the government because the virus is
still very much with us but we are still working. Giving a time
frame now will seem as though we are trying to issue a threat or
ultimatum but we are not. We expect the government to do the
needful.”
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday disclosed that
at least 20 doctors have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the last
one week.
It therefore urged the general public to adhere strictly to the
non-pharmaceutical protocols of hand washing, sanitizing, properly
wearing face masks, and maintaining social distancing. It also
urged patients to ensure full disclosure of medical history of
COVID-19 or COVID-19 related occurrences, so that health workers
can better protect themselves while providing quality health care
services.
The Association further decried the paltry sum of N5, 000 paid
monthly to doctors as hazard allowance, calling on the government
to ensure an upward review of their welfare packages
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), FCT
Chapter, Dr. Enema Amodu, made this known during a briefing in
Abuja.
He said, “Everywhere around the world at this time, we are
facing a second wave, and this second wave is so overwhelming and
more catastrophic because a lot of people have gone back to the way
of doing things thinking that the virus is over, and it is gone and
they have let their guards down.
“For those of us in the health sector, we have lost quite a
number of colleagues in the last one week alone. Across the nation,
we have lost professors, consultants, residents (both senior and
junior), very senior medical officers and nurses – some of them you
may not hear of and some you may hear depending on the
circumstances and whatever positions they are occupying. This goes
to show that this virus is very much with us and they call it a
second wave, but it is actually a continuum because it never really
left us.
“I am here this afternoon on Christmas Day to solidarise first
with the families of our members that have lost loved ones. I want
to make it public that we are with you in this very trying and
grieving moment of sadness over the loss of our colleagues who most
likely are the breadwinners of their families. We also want to use
this opportunity to talk to our patients; when you come to us in
the hospitals and clinics, please oblige us and wear your mask.
Tell us the truth about your past medical condition and don’t hold
any information back.
“The figure of the number of our colleagues that have died is
evolving everyday but as I am standing here, I got a call from a
colleague who is in an isolation centre, and he is not sounding
very good. I can give you a figure now that by evening it will
change. But I can tell you from the top of my head across the
country, we have lost not less than 20 doctors in the last one
week.
By the grace of God, I am standing here today as a survivor
because as an ENT consultant, I inadvertently saw a patient that I
did not know had COVID-19 and she did not tell me, and she knew. I
was exposed and contracted the virus; I developed symptoms but by
the grace of God my colleagues rallied around me and I
survived.
“Our patients need to follow the laid-down rules and we are not
degrading or insulting anybody. As you enter the hospital premises,
most hospitals now have facilities for you to wash your hands and
ensure that you wear your mask – please comply. Also, when you sit
with a doctor, ensure you keep a safe distance.”
Amodu added: “The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has
not rested on his oars since this pandemic broke out. I was
privileged to be part of a team that went to see the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Dr. Femi Gbajabiamila. The President put
forward the issue of our hazard allowance. There is no need to hide
anything anymore. I can tell you that our hazard allowance is N5,
000 per month. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has
assured my President that they will do something about it and we
believe he will do something about it because he is a legislator
that believes that the health sector is key to development.
“Our members are dying and my colleagues are suffering and
angry. But we have taken an oath and that is why we are still
providing services, and we will continue to provide services. We
just asked the government to do their own bit and help us so that
we can change the narrative of the health sector.
“We hope that the government will start off the new year with a
reviewed hazard allowance. But I am not oblivious of the processes
for it to be gazette and captured in our salaries and wages. We
expect that the government will expedite action because we need
this show of solidarity from the government because the virus is
still very much with us but we are still working. Giving a time
frame now will seem as though we are trying to issue a threat or
ultimatum but we are not. We expect the government to do the
needful.”