Covid-19: 22 Doctors, 60 Others Test Positive

… As NMA demands Upward Review Of Hazard Allowance

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State branch has announced that 22 doctors in the state have tested positive for covid-19 pandemic.

The NMA, which lamented lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for its members fighting the virus, said 60 other health workers also tested positive for coronavirus.The Association, therefore, called on the River State to urgently take an upward review of the hazard allowances paid to doctors under the state government employment.

The state’s chairperson of NMA, Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi, stated this in Port Harcourt while reeling out challenges faced by health workers in the state.Dr. Adebiyi noted that despite efforts of the government in containing the spread of the virus, the state was still recording a high number of cases.

While expressing concern that health workers in the state were compelled to provide PPEs for themselves, she commended doctors practicing in the state for maintaining good professional conduct, despite the challenges.

Adebiyi said: “The number of cases in Rivers State moved from zero in less than 8 weeks to about 450 confirmed cases with 21 deaths. This is really a worrisome situation.

“More worrisome to us is the rising cases of infection among health workers. Currently, 22 doctors and over 60 health workers have been confirmed positive and are receiving treatment across different isolation centers in the state.

“The state has also recorded the death of a health worker through coronavirus. This clearly calls for more action from the government, the heads of government and private health facilities in the state, and indeed the general public.

“Health workers in public hospitals are left to provide personal protective equipment for themselves.

“Government must provide PPEs for all health workers in public and private hospitals.

“When health workers are unprotected, the risk for infection rises significantly and our collective effort to fight the pandemic is greatly hampered.

“This is another issue that must be urgently addressed if we will make progress in our fight against Covid-19.”

Badmus Opeyemi

I'm a graduate of Lagos State University ( B.A History and International Relations) and Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State ( National Diploma, Mass Communication) respectively. I have more than six years of experience in News Writing and Reporting, Video Recording and Editing as well as Post Production.