Inviting Chinese Doctors at expense of Nigerian Doctors to tackle coronavirus is insulting, says Penpushing Media
Penpushing Media with stakeholders across the globe has cautioned the Nigerian Government against proposed engagement of Chinese Doctors in handling and proffering solutions to the ravaging coronavirus in the country.
Penpushing reports that the caution note was contained in a communiqué issued after a roundtable dialogue on Saturday, April 4,endorsed by the Editorial Board stressing that, doing that will amount to rubbishing the efforts of the indigenous Doctors in curtailing the spread, as commended by the United Nations and World Health Organisation(WHO)
‘The participants noted that the federal government announcement of the expected arrival of a Chinese medical team is coming at a time when the UN and the WHO have acknowledged with praise Nigeria’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as worthy of emulation by other nations’, the communique emphasised.
Penpushing further reports that, the dialogue also noted with concern the role to be played by the Chinese in the spread of the new coronavirus, and it therefore expressed apprehensions that the arrival of the Chinese medical team might jeopardise successes already recorded locally in checkmating the spread of the disease.
The communiqué advised the Nigerian Government on the need to improve on infrastructure and poor environmental management in the health sector, which have been identified of some factors working against the Doctors.
‘ Government should therefore focus on improving this and let the professionals get to work battling Coronavirus and other such epidemics to a standstill to the admiration of not just Nigerians but the entire world’.
The communiqué stated that, Penpushing Media dialogue offered specific advice to government including the following: The Federal Government must work with the Nigerian Medical Association in the fight against COVID-19 and must seek its input before welcoming any foreign medical help, especially from the Chinese.
*It noted with pride that the country’s medical personnel have done well in the management of convid-19 cases and should not be rubbished by handing the glory to foreigners, who might end up claiming credit for a successful containment of Coronavirus in the country
*The participants while observing that a lot is still unknown about the virus, Nigeria must guard against her citizens being used for experimentation by foreigners
* It urged better and further coordination between the various agencies handling the COVID-19 response, including the NCDC, the Presidential Task Force, the Ministry of Health and relevant professional groups.
*The participants concluded that while there is nothing wrong with sharing experience and knowledge with foreign experts, such must be done in way to uplift and not denigrate local efforts and knowledge.
