ABEOKUTA– The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State Chapter Tuesday expressed worry over the surge in the spread of COVID-19 pandemic following the nationwide protest against Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police.
The Chairman of the Association, Dr. Oladayo Ogunlaja raised the concern while speaking to journalists at the National Physicians’ week held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Ogunlaja lamented the violation of COVID-19 prevention guidelines by the protesters, noting that the protests pose a great danger to the recovery of Nigeria from the pandemic
“I’m worried and our national body has also given their words. What we should do is to maintain physical distancing and do the needful to prevent the spread of this COVID-19.
“Like we see in most of the trending videos, people are packed, thickly packed and that may likely increase the spread of COVID-19 so we are worried as an association.
“Our advice to the protesters is to maintain social distancing, use face masks and try as much as possible to maintain COVID-19 prevention guidelines”.
Mainwhile the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his speech disclosed that the state has approved the payment of appropriate renumeration for all doctors working in state-owned hospitals.
Abiodun, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi said the state would soon commence the second phase of recruitment of doctors and other health workers to address the shortage of staff in the state-owned hospitals.
“Our administration will continue to take your welfare as a priority as part of our overall healthcare delivery programme”, Abiodun assured the doctors.
