COVID-19 Update: The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) of Lagos state has directed medical doctors to stay at home amid the Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria.
According to our source, the “Sit at home” order by the NMA to all its doctors in Lagos state was caused by the alleged harassment and intimidation by policemen in Lagos state.
Mr. Dr. Saliu Oseni, the chairman of NMA and its secretary, Dr. Ramon Moronkola issued a statement to address the alleged harassment stated above.
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The statement read;
“We have observed that despite the directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari, through the Presidential Taskforce on COVID 19, which was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health workers from the ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions, (but) the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health-workers are NOT exempted.
“As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Medical Association was inundated yesterday (Tuesday) evening of several cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers and men of the Lagos State Police command to the extent that even Ambulances carrying patients with emergency cases were impounded. This has become a recurrent issue.
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“The Lagos State Branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.
“You are hereby advised to proceed on a sit-at-home, in your best interest, starting from 6pm today, Wednesday, 20th May, 2020 indefinitely, until otherwise advised.”
