Posted on: Sun 03-05-2020

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) lauds the measures so far taken by the government and responses of the frontline workers to contain the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria. However, the union has studied carefully the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari on the gradual easing of lockdown nationwide with effect from Monday, May 4, 2020 and hereby raises serious concern based on reported cases of increase in coronavirus infection and spread across the country in the last few days.  

 

The present rate of spread of the novel virus should not be treated with kid-glove by the government because the COVID 19 Pandemic curve in our country is yet to flatten. As a union with members on the frontlines, we cannot but caution the Federal and affected State Governments to continue with the lockdown until adequate measures have been taken to contain it.  

 

The nation should not be thrown into an astronomical spread of unimaginable proportion. We must not forget the fact that, the deficit of health professionals, medical consumables and facilities in our country would not be able to handle whatever upsurge that may arise due to the high incidences especially the community transmission that is been presently witnessed in some parts of the country.  

 

As at today Nigeria has recorded 2,388 infected cases and a total of 85 deaths. According to Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), only 16,588 cases have been tested so far in a population of about 200 million people. We should avoid repeating the initial national mistake of ignoring our call for early stringent measures at all entry points into Nigeria at the onset of this pandemic. This premature relaxation is suicidal; and if allowed, has the capacity of eroding all our gains in the fight against COVID-19.  

 

In view of this disturbing development arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, the union demand as follows:  

i.The immediate reversal of the decision by Federal Government to relax lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State  

ii.Procurement of more testing kits and centres nationwide  

iii.Establishment of more isolation centres  

iv.Strengthening and encouraging research on the development of vaccines  

v.Involvement of more healthcare workers on the frontlines  

vi. Supporting textile and garment industries and laboratories in the production of face masks, rapid test kits, hand sanitizers and ventilators  

vii.Provision of more Personal Protective Equipments for frontline workers  

viii.Expansion of testing beyond those who have contact with index cases  

ix. Immediate deployment of Rapid Response Team (RRT) to support response in all states of the federation

x. Continuous training of frontline health workers and others  

xi.Decontamination of most visited public places most especially offices and market places  

xii.Groundswell advocacy on compulsory wearing of face masks, hand washing and maintaining social and physical distancing  

xiii.Provide more incentives to further motivate the frontline workers especially those in health sector and security agencies  

xiv.Deployment of health workers, who understand viral warfare better, to lead and supervise the security team in the lockdown operation of our various borders

xv. Extension of palliatives to more vulnerable Nigerians  

We demand the above steps amongst others must be met before any decision to ease the lockdown is taken.

 

 

SIGNED:

Comrade (Dr.) Obinna Chimela Ogbonna National President    

Comrade Martin Adekunle Egbanubi General Secretary

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