The Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has allayed the fears raised by Nigerian doctors over the invitation of some Chinese doctors to assist in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the country.
The doctors had opposed the government decision of inviting a Chinese medical team to help in the fight against coronavirus.
According to a report by aa.com.tr, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had criticized the invitation as “ill-timed” and inappropriate, raising concerns over the impact of a similar team to Italy.
“We are profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is 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,” the NMA stated.
Gbajabiamila, who had a meeting the Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire and Minister of State for Health Olorunimbe Mamora , said the Chinese doctors will comply with all laid down procedures.
He said: “I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We extracted the following commitments from them:
1, The Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria
2, The Doctors and Nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient
3, There will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and our engagement continues.”
