COVID-19: NMA Cross River State Chapter Withdraws Services Across The State.
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State chapter in Nigeria has withdrawn it’s services across the State.
This is stated in a release made available to NEWS DOT AFRICA by NMA Cross River State branch, after an Emergency General Meeting on Sunday, July 5, 2020 in Calabar to deliberate on the current issues of COVID-19 testing, surveillance, contact tracing, isolation, treatment and care in the State.
According to release, “the Association passed a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on the Honorable Commissioner for Health – Dr. Betta Edu, and further referred her to the NMA National Disciplinary Committee and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for the unethical handling of COVID-19 testing in the State, thus putting lives at risk and bringing the Association to disrepute.”
The Association commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in declaring University of Calabar Teaching Hospital an Independent Test Centre and the eventual activation of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Molecular Laboratory and Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital Calabar for COVID-19 PCR Testing. “We sincerely thank them for this, ” NMA added
However the association demanded explanation from NCDC, why, the five (5) COVID-19 confirmed cases from UCTH carried out at the NCDC accredited Molecular Laboratory at Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State have not reflected in the daily situation report of NCDC long after results had been transmitted to UCTH since July 1, 2020.
“Congress demands update of the NCDC situation report as a matter of urgent public health interest.
“The NCDC is put on notice that the Cross River State Government have abdicated her responsibility of contact tracing, treatment and care for the five (5) confirmed cases which may not be unconnected with the delay in publication of the results by NCDC. Congress demands the immediate activation of Adiabo Isolation Centre and commencement of surveillance and contact tracing in the State”, it said
NMA lamented that residents of Cross River State have been put in a precarious public health and safety situation due to the confusion and uncertainty created by the delayed updating of the results by NCDC.
“Arising from the meeting, all members of Nigerian Medical Association Cross River State branch in public and private hospitals have embarked on a total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services until NCDC and the State Ministry of Health give urgent and prompt attention to the issues raised”, NMA declared.
NMA urged relevant authorities to act decisively, within the shortest possible time to bring to a timely end their total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services.
