The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday met with Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, over the Federal Government’s plan to request for Chinese Doctors.
The Chinese doctors are to help in fighting Coronavirus in Nigeria. Resident doctors have condemned this move likewise the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
“We reject in totality the request of the federal government to the Chinese government for assistance of their doctors to help in fighting the Coronavirus surge”, a statement by Lagos Council chairman, Agnes Sessi read on Monday.
Meanwhile, Mr Gbajabiamila met with the minister and his team over the matter. He took to Twitter to announce their resolution.
“I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria”.
“We extracted the following commitments from them the Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria”.
“The Doctors and Nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient”
“There will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and our engagement continues”, he said.
Gbajabiamila, after the meeting between the leadership of the House and the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said the measures became necessary to take precautions and allay fears expressed by many Nigerians.
This is even as the two ministers assured that Speaker that the 18 Chinese doctors will not have personal contacts with patients during their stay in the country.
Present at the meeting were the Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno; the Deputy Leader, Peter Akpatason, and the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
