On-federal-government-plan-to-bring-in-chinese-doctors-to-help-fight-coronavirus-a-misplaced-step-that-is-uncalled-for-and-undermining-of-the-nigerian-doctors-sacrifice
September 7, 2020 | News
ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO BRING IN CHINESE DOCTORS TO HELP FIGHT CORONAVIRUS - A MISPLACED STEP THAT IS UNCALLED FOR AND UNDERMINING OF THE NIGERIAN DOCTORS' SACRIFICE
With regard to recent reports that there is a move by the Federal Government to import 18-man team of Chinese medical experts including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other medical advisers to assist Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19, we consider it as a gross misplacement of priority considering the urgent need to revive the nation's deplorable health sector, and also a complete disregard to enormous sacrifices put in by Nigerian medical professionals in the fight against this pandemic since it began some few months back.
Why would the Federal Government "import" Chinese doctors to treat Coronavirus patients in the country when we have more number of qualified medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses than those in China? It is no news that Nigerian doctors, pharmacists and health workers are amongst the best brains in the medical field globally. All that they need to excel more, are better working conditions and modern healthcare infrastructure to work better.
We are glad that, as expected, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in a statement by its President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, has said the association received the report with great dismay and utter disappointment. As it described the plan as an embarrassment to its members and other health workers fighting COVID-19 under deplorable conditions in the country. This personnel should not have been subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along on such a decision, the NMA noted.
"The association is aware of a large pool of general medical and specialist practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed. These could be engaged instead of foreigners who pose a risk to national security and may not be conversant with culture, terrain and peculiar challenges. The NMA hoped that the Federal government would rescind the decision in the interest of the country, warning that it would hate to review its participation in the fight against COVID-19 if the government goes ahead. NMA said. The NMA hoped that the government would rescind the decision in the interest of the country, warning that it would hate to review its participation in the fight against COVID-19 if the government goes ahead."
Regardless of the fact that, according to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, that the said Chinese health experts will be coming in with medical kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to assist in fight against the pandemic; the money the President Muhammadu Buhari APC-led administration will use to "import" these Chinese health workers, accommodate them and take care of their logistics and stay throughout the period they will be in the country, is enough for the Government to add towards improving the entire Nigerian health sector. As noted by the NMA, "the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, and the absolute lack of any form of insurance for the workforce, are primordial issues begging for attention at this time."
They also noted that: "We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese, who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves. The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID -19 in Italy, coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far...It expects the Government to show appreciation by channelling the available resources and donations to improving testing facilities to detect more cases and ramp up capacity to train more workers...The Association believes that this invitation is ill-timed and of no overbearing significance, considering that whatever experiences the Chinese have, can be shared by digital technology through conferencing, bearing in mind that Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has only just returned from China. We are not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because we can always do with such support, as even the developed countries receive support.
"In rejecting the invitation of the Chinese doctors, the NMA would instead urge the Federal Government to review and approve better welfare incentives to the frontline medical personnel. The provision of adequate personal protective equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID 19 is equally a better application of scarce resources." Aside the need for the Government to do the needful in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, there is also need for the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency in the Health sector and use the opportunity to fix our health institutions as a matter of urgency in a bid to stem the rot. But as for the invitation to the Chinese doctors, the Government should forget about that move because it is absolutely uncalled for.
Zik Gbemre.
April 7, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With regard to recent reports that there is a move by the Federal Government to import 18-man team of Chinese medical experts including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other medical advisers to assist Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19, we consider it as a gross misplacement of priority considering the urgent need to revive the nation's deplorable health sector, and also a complete disregard to enormous sacrifices put in by Nigerian medical professionals in the fight against this pandemic since it began some few months back.
Why would the Federal Government "import" Chinese doctors to treat Coronavirus patients in the country when we have more number of qualified medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses than those in China? It is no news that Nigerian doctors, pharmacists and health workers are amongst the best brains in the medical field globally. All that they need to excel more, are better working conditions and modern healthcare infrastructure to work better.
We are glad that, as expected, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in a statement by its President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, has said the association received the report with great dismay and utter disappointment. As it described the plan as an embarrassment to its members and other health workers fighting COVID-19 under deplorable conditions in the country. This personnel should not have been subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along on such a decision, the NMA noted.
"The association is aware of a large pool of general medical and specialist practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed. These could be engaged instead of foreigners who pose a risk to national security and may not be conversant with culture, terrain and peculiar challenges. The NMA hoped that the Federal government would rescind the decision in the interest of the country, warning that it would hate to review its participation in the fight against COVID-19 if the government goes ahead. NMA said. The NMA hoped that the government would rescind the decision in the interest of the country, warning that it would hate to review its participation in the fight against COVID-19 if the government goes ahead."
Regardless of the fact that, according to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, that the said Chinese health experts will be coming in with medical kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to assist in fight against the pandemic; the money the President Muhammadu Buhari APC-led administration will use to "import" these Chinese health workers, accommodate them and take care of their logistics and stay throughout the period they will be in the country, is enough for the Government to add towards improving the entire Nigerian health sector. As noted by the NMA, "the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, and the absolute lack of any form of insurance for the workforce, are primordial issues begging for attention at this time."
They also noted that: "We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese, who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves. The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID -19 in Italy, coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far...It expects the Government to show appreciation by channelling the available resources and donations to improving testing facilities to detect more cases and ramp up capacity to train more workers...The Association believes that this invitation is ill-timed and of no overbearing significance, considering that whatever experiences the Chinese have, can be shared by digital technology through conferencing, bearing in mind that Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has only just returned from China. We are not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because we can always do with such support, as even the developed countries receive support.
"In rejecting the invitation of the Chinese doctors, the NMA would instead urge the Federal Government to review and approve better welfare incentives to the frontline medical personnel. The provision of adequate personal protective equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID 19 is equally a better application of scarce resources." Aside the need for the Government to do the needful in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, there is also need for the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency in the Health sector and use the opportunity to fix our health institutions as a matter of urgency in a bid to stem the rot. But as for the invitation to the Chinese doctors, the Government should forget about that move because it is absolutely uncalled for.
Zik Gbemre.
April 7, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes