The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, says it loses more than twenty doctors every week in nationwide.
The Chairman of the FCT branch of association, Dr. Enema Ahmodu, made the disclosure in his Christmas message in Abuja.
Speaking on the association’s position on the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that insincerity on the part of some patients had put doctors and Nurses at high risk of contacting the corona virus.
The chairman said more than 20 doctors have died due to COVID19 in the past one week.
“I can not give a specific figure of medical personnel that have died in the last one week as the figure keep changing. But can authoritatively tell you from the top of my head that in the last one week, we have lost over twenty doctors to the pandemic”. Dr. Ahmodu said.
He also said that most medical doctors fell victims because patients are not sincere during medical visits.
“We want to use this opportunity to talk to our patients, please when you come to our hospitals and clinics, please oblige, wear your mask, tell us the truth about your past medical conditions, don’t hold any information back. Follow the laid down rules. We are not in anyway demeaning or insulting anybody. And when you sit before a doctor, ensure a safe distance and comply. And when the doctor ask you if there’s any other problem, please, be gracious enough to let them know whether you just survived COVID-19, you are on treatment for COVID-19 or your family member is treating COVID-19. We beg you to help us. We are human beings too. We are not super humans,” Dr. Ahmodu said.
Dr Enema Ahmodu also called for the upward review of the hazard allowance for doctors’ in Nigeria as the five thousand naira being paid is no longer feasible.
He noted that the speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila had promised to look into the hazard allowance issues and urged him to do so.
To the government, the chairman appealed for the improvement of health facilities.
“To the government, there is the need to improve on health facilities by fully equipping them with personal protective equipment, ambulances and provision of basic hospital needs in all health facilities in the country.”
The NMA also assured Nigerians that it is fully prepared for all festivities emergencies that may arise within the period.
The chairman wished all Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a great 2021.
L. Nasir
