NMA calls for FCT lockdown

•Advocates Decentralisation Of Testing Labs

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Federal Capital Territory (FCT chapter), has urged the Federal Ministry of Health to grant approval to facilities with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine to conduct testing so as not to lose probable cases of coronavirus.

NMA also called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Musa Bello, to enforce a lockdown of the FCT, including the suburbs for about four weeks to check the spread of the coronavirus in the nation’s capital city. 

Chairman of the association, Dr. Philips Ekpe, who made the call in Abuja, lamented that all markets in FCT were overcrowded, and that nobody was observing social distancing. 

He said one of the best ways to manage COVID-19 was through prevention and basic hygiene, adding that if people limited their movements, it would help curb the spread. 

The Chairman observed that NCDC was overburdened and stressed the need for the agency to train volunteers on collection of samples. He further appealed to FCT administration to ensure regular and steady water and electricity supply to all homes, hospitals and health facilities. 

Ekpe called for provision of life insurance to all volunteers, as well as free and subsidised facemask, hand sanitisers and PPEs to health workers and the public.

“We appreciate all efforts so far towards the containment of COVID-19 by the Federal Government and team, FCT and COVID-19 technical team, NCDC, FCT Department of Public Health, Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of public and private Health facilities in the FCT,” he added.