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NMA flays attack on members, health facilities, canvasses more security

By Chukwuma Muanya
04 November 2020   |   4:04 am
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned the attack by hoodlums of health facilities and assault on its members during the protests.

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned the attack by hoodlums of health facilities and assault on its members during the protests.

The hoodlums burnt hospitals and clinics, just as they vandalised medical supplies.

President of NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, in a statement yesterday, condemned the destruction of hospital facilities, which has irredeemable negative impact on the health system.

Ujah, the immediate past Director General of Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba, Lagos, and consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (O&G), said the action of the hoodlums would further weaken healthcare delivery in the country.

The pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, called on those who are in custody of the medicaments and hospital equipment to return them either to be used or destroyed professionally because some of the supplies could be very harmful to the human body.

“We, therefore, urge all those in custody of these vaccines to return them to the health facilities for revalidation for possible use. No form of attacks on any health facility and hospital personnel is tolerated in any civilised country,” the physician said.

The NMA expressed embarrassment that security operatives did not protect health workers, facilities and equipment against vandals and criminals.

His words: “We were shocked on the magnitude of the reported looting and vandalism of health facilities, hospital equipment, vaccines, drugs and consumables as well as assault on our members in the line of duty in Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Ekiti states.

“We are concerned about the risks health workers and health facilities are exposed to and call on all security operatives to refocus on hospitals, clinics and medical stores all over the country, if we desire to give quality health to our people.”

He appealed to protesters and hoodlums to stop further destruction of hospital facilities and called on security agencies to sustain their efforts in protecting lives and properties in the countries.

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