Reps to FG: Visiting Chinese doctors must be quarantined for 14 days

The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila also stated that they must not be allowed to have any contact whatsoever with Nigerians who battling with the disease. He added that the doctors must undergo the necessary immigration checks and protocols provided by Nigeria before working in the country.

The lawmakers handed down the warning to the government at a meeting between the leadership of the House and the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora. It will be recalled that the government had recently announced the coming of 18 Chinese doctors to help in the fight against Coronavirus. Also read: 9th House working to meet parliamentary staff demands — Gbajabiamila In a reaction, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA and other health professional bodies kicked against it

The same was also the position of many Nigerians. Many had expressed fear of a hidden agenda by the government and China from where the virus first erupted in December 2019. But the ministers in the meeting convinced the leadership of the House on the importance of the visit. Apart from the Speaker, those present at the meeting were the Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno; the Deputy Leader, Peter Akpatason, and the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

The lawmakers who decried lack of adequate information on the matter, however, stated that the stipulated protocols were necessary to take precautions and allay fears expressed by many Nigerians. Specifically, Gbajabiamila said the meeting was conveyed following widespread complaints that trailed the announcement of the coming of the Chinese medical personnel to assist Nigeria. He said the information gap about the Chinese gesture was regrettable and should be addressed immediately. He said: “There are a lot of complaints about why we are bringing in Chinese doctors. “It is incumbent on us, as lawmakers, to intervene, following the concerns of our constituents to understand the issues and get the right information to them. “Our duty is to protect the Nigerian people, and every opportunity to increase our knowledge will not be thrown away.

“Having listened to you, what we are taking away from this meeting is that Nigeria needs this intervention from the Chinese, but you have to make it mandatory that they observe all the protocols laid down for the disease. “As you explained that they won’t have direct contact with Nigerian patients, you have to make sure that they go through our official immigration laws, they have to get work permit waivers because they are coming here to work. “Also, they have to be quarantined for 14 days as stipulated by the protocol, and you have to educate Nigerians about this to avoid misconceptions. We have laws and they must be complied with”. Speaking, the Minister of Health, Ehanire, told the House leadership that Nigeria did not officially invite the Chinese team, but that it was an offer arranged by a group of Chinese companies based in Nigeria as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Nigeria.

He said that being a novel disease that every country was trying to understand, Nigeria will benefit more from the gesture because the existing health facilities and personnel in Nigeria to tackle the disease are inadequate. On his part, Minister of State for Health, Mamora, emphasized that the Chinese personnel were mainly experts in molecular laboratory testing, where we have only two indigenous experts currently serving seven laboratory centres. He said the Chinese doctors were expected to help in setting up molecular laboratories around the country as well as upgrade and reconfigure existing ones in the country.

Mamora added that the Chinese medical personnel would not have direct contact with Nigerian patients but would only help to reconfigure the laboratories and train Nigerian personnel and experts on the management of the disease and operation of the equipment and upgraded laboratories. He said the Chinese gesture has no financial implications to Nigeria, regretting that there was little option than to accept the offer.

He said: “Case testing is the bulk of work because some people are asymptomatic, so we need faster and rapid test kits and processing. We are doing molecular testing that helps us know the viral load as well. “We need to expand our testing labs across the country. Presently, we have two lab scientists in molecular testing, serving seven labs across the country. As we are expanding across the country, we need more people to be trained in molecular testing for faster results”. Vanguard