By Babajide Okeowo
In the aftermath of the death of 20 medical doctors within one week as a result of COVID-19, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has highlighted how a future occurrence can be averted.
The association highlighted that to prevent a future occurrence, it has become imperative to train health workers in infection prevention.
NMA President, Professor Innocent Ujah disclosed that it has become necessary to train medical workers on infection prevention while calling on the government to provide personal protective equipment, running water, soap, and gloves for doctors and other health workers.
“Let me plead that we need to be protected by having training among our people. Younger doctors are coming up and COVID-19, we don’t know when it will end or the extent it can go. The only thing we need is infection prevention and control.
We need to contact the Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID 19, and the Ministry of Health to support our training. We need to write a proposal so that we can train doctors and health workers throughout the nation in infection prevention” he said.
He also expressed sadness over the deaths of the health workers saying no doctor should pay the ultimate price in the service to his or her fatherland.
“Let me just say that even if it is one doctor, that died of COVID-19 in the process of providing service to the nation to prevent death, to us it is sad. No doctor should die providing services for the nation” he lamented.
Recall that 20 medical doctors recently died from COVID 19 in one week which sparked national outrage and grief.
