The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA); and National Association of
Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; are to partner Federal and Borno State
Governments fight coronavirus in communities.
According to Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 has already claimed
27,862 lives from over 600,000 cases of global infections as on
Saturday (yesterday).
The partnership was unfolded on Saturday, while the NMA Chairman,
Prof. Aliyu Kodiya held a news conference at Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) press centre, Maiduguri.
“We deem it necessary to take ‘prompt and concrete measures’ to avert
any form of crisis emanating from the coronavirus disease,” he said.
He said that the doctors and nurses will provide adequate information
on the disease to teeming residents in Borno state.
On implementation of partnership, Kodiya said: “We’ll provide the
needed expertise for prompt identification, isolation, treatment and
close monitoring of corona virus disease, if it outbreaks in the
state.”
According to him, there will be continuous training for healthcare
workers, particularly clinical workers on global best practices in
infectious prevention and control.
He also assured all other support to government agencies,
international and local non-governmental organisations as well as
traditional institutions to curb the deadly virus.
He therefore; called on public to practice basic hygiene, including
hand washing with soap and water.
“The use of hand sanitizers, protective face-masks and observing
social distancing, has become inevitable in fighting COVID-19,” said
Prof. Kodiya.
He noted that when it becomes necessary for people to come out, they
should strictly adhere to precautionary listed measures.
Continued: “Avoid large gatherings including places of worships,
burial and wedding ceremonies, markets, public transport and other
gatherings of over 50 people,” warning that people should desist from
relying on social media for information on the disease, as it could be
misleading.
He warned that the people should not panic. Instead, they be calm and
take full control in fighting the deadly virus.
While speaking on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps, he
said: “We called on IDPs to ensure minimal interaction and avoid any
communal meetings in camps for the next three weeks.”
