PTF: 14 medical doctors die of virus infection in Nigeria

The Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 has blamed Nigerians for the continued non-compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols, saying it would have flattened the curve by now, but for the lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians towards containing the pandemic.

It also lamented the increasing Covid-19 case fatalities in the country, disclosing that of the 985 deaths recorded so far, 14 of them were medical doctors who contracted the virus in the line of duty.

“In coordinating this national response, I can assure you that our biggest challenge has been the attitude of some Nigerians. That is our biggest challenge. Everything to fight Covid-19 has been placed out our disposal. We arrested the 2020 budget and got it revised, all in an attempt to deal with the financial means in fighting Covid-19.

“We are not in short of any resources to fight Covid-19. We have coordinated a national response that took in everybody that matters in this country. The corporate world through CA-COVID has amassed a huge war-chest of resources.

“So, our major challenge as a Presidential Taskforce has been the attitude of some Nigerians. With our response, we would have flattened the curve. We would have dampened this ravaging virus by now if we had just complied with simple instructions and that brings me to a major thing which was aptly demonstrated yesterday when I presented a memorandum to the president for the introduction of a National Policy on Ethics and Integrity. Most of us think that as Nigerians we only have rights but there are corresponding responsibilities that you are expected to exhibit as a citizen of the country.

“This morning, Nigerians woke up to the stark reality that our confirmed cases of COVID-19 have crossed the 50,000 marks standing at 50,488 and a death toll of 985 bringing us close to the unenviable record of 1,000 fatalities. These records are not landmarks to be celebrated especially as every single death further underscores the grief and pains of families and friends, scuttled lives that could have contributed to national development and abridging God’s purpose for the lost soul. This is aptly demonstrated by the fact that 14 of these paid the supreme sacrifice as they were doctors who toiled daily to save lives”, said Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Taskforce and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF.

Mustapha who disclosed this during Thursday’s briefing of the Taskforce said the coronavirus continues to display unpredictable characteristics that show its relentless nature on populations that disregard common and simple protective measures.

He said it would be extremely selfish for Nigerian youths to continue to flout the safety protocols and carry on without sparing a thought for their safety and those of the vulnerable.

“Such behaviour has been amplified in the surge in some states of the United States of America. Similarly, this unpredictability is reflected in the last twenty-four hours when Plateau State witnessed the highest daily number of confirmed cases.

“In the last two days, the World Health Organisation WHO had issued warnings on Vaccine Nationalism and that young people are aiding the spread of the virus. The latter is more germane for us as Nigerians with our over 80% youthful population and should give us more cause to be on our guard. It would border on extreme selfishness for our youths to believe that since they are asymptomatic carriers they can carry on with life as they please. More so that being asymptomatic does not guarantee immunity forever. The PTF is, however, encouraged by the fact that majority of our youths are in the vanguard of this fight and still call on the few non-conforming ones to join”, he said.

According to the SGF, Nigeria’s testing infrastructure has been increased to undertake up to 15,000 tests per day, but unfortunately, Nigeria is currently testing between 3,000 to 6,000 daily due mainly to people still not subjecting themselves to testing.

The government explained that the increasing number of cases from Plateau state was due to an improvement in testing, saying a lot of people are now being tested daily in the state.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika who reiterated the decision of the federal government to commence international flights as from August 29, adding that Nigeria would implement the principle of reciprocity with countries who have barred Nigerians from flying into their countries.

He said Nigeria will treat citizens of other countries the way their home countries treat Nigerian citizens, saying those who have barred flights from Nigeria would not also be allowed into the country

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government is working with relevant partners to be able to access vaccines when they are eventually developed.

“Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organization to finalize enrollment with ACT Accelerator, a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring research Organizations working on covid19 vaccine development. We are also interested in the COVAX facility, a GAVI supported global initiative to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines, as soon as they are available, especially for Lower and lower middle-Income Countries (LMIC). This will prioritize Nigeria for allocation of a part of 2 billion vaccines doses that will be secured, in a special plan to protect the interests of poorer countries”.

Source: Today.ng

Doctors to commence strike over hazard allowances, salary shortfall

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to resume its suspended industrial action on August 17 if the federal government does not meet its demand.

The association gave the ultimatum on Saturday in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting and scientific conference in Gombe.

“The association resolved to extend the suspension of her strike action by three weeks to give government time to address her demands.

“Failure to adequately address these concerns will leave the association with no choice than to resume the suspended strike on Monday the 17th of August 2020,” NARD said in the communique signed by Dr. Sokomba Aliyu, Dr.Bilqis Muhammad and Dr. Egbogu Stanley, the president, Secretary General and Publicity Secretary of the association respectively.

The demands

The demands of the association include the immediate resignation or removal of the Chief Medical Director of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Professor Henry Ugboma, for fraud and administrative rascality, and unconditional reinstatement of the suspended UPTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD)’s executives led by Dr. Solomon Amadi.

Other demands are; that hospitals be provided with funds to sustain provision of the needed personal protective equipment, immediate implementation and funding of the medical residency training act as agreed, and payment of salary shortfall to her members.

NARD also demanded payment of COVID- 19 hazard inducement allowance to her members which it said was now long overdue and implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act to ensure adequate remuneration of state health workers.

The association also called on the federal government and National Assembly to investigate the non enrollment of healthcare workers for Group Life Insurance, and non-payment of Death-in-Service benefits to the next-of-kin of its fallen heroes despite claims of payment to insurance companies.

“NEC demands immediate payment of arrears of consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage owed some doctors and other health workers.

“We also demand appropriate compensation of our members in State Health Institutions,” the association added.

NARD said,, during the meeting its NEC deliberated on her suspended industrial action with a view to appraise the response of the government to issues that necessitated industrial dispute but observed continued shortage of supply of PPEs and funding to various tertiary health institutions.

It said it also observed that payment of COVID-19 hazard inducement allowance was commenced and was abruptly suspended immediately the NARD strike was suspended, among others.

death –Doctor whose patient died after cosmetic surgery

Blogger, others threatening to stone me to 

Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju

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Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, the operator of Med Contour Services Limited, speaks to ALEXANDER OKERE about the death of one of her clients after an alleged botched cosmetic surgery at her clinic in Lagos

There were complaints about the standard of your services. For how long have you been practising as a surgeon and what exactly do you do?

I am a graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. I am a duly registered member of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, a member of the Nigerian Medical Association and physician member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. I am a cosmetic surgeon and have been practising since 2018. I am into cosmetic surgery – minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures. I have been doing non-invasive procedures for quite some time now. I have been doing minimally invasive procedures since 2017/2018.

There is an allegation that you market your services?

Basically, what I upload on Instagram is to educate the public about what I do and make them know that these things can be done in Nigeria and they are not as bad as they think. I don’t market my services.

It was alleged that the services you provide are actually unsafe. What is your reaction to that?

It is false. If out of about 1,000 patients, only three patients said the procedures are unsafe, I don’t think that (allegation) is credible. The numbers are there.

What is your response to complaints that you uploaded bloodied body parts and obscene photos of women who have undergone or were undergoing cosmetic procedures in your clinic?

We don’t show blood. We show the procedure we have done. We show the part of the body we have worked on. We don’t disclose patients’ information unless they have authorised us to do so. We only display body parts we have worked on, like the abdomen, back and the bum, and we cover the sensitive parts of the body when doing so.

What about the criticism that you play and dance to secular music while performing the procedures?

There is no law that says you cannot play music in your (surgical) theatre. It is not against the medical practice to play music in the theatre. You do what makes you happy and concentrate. If you love to play music while reading or working, no one will say you shouldn’t. If I need to exercise my legs after standing in a particular position for so long, can’t I move about? There is no law that says you shouldn’t move about or shake your legs a bit or shake your body a little while working. We do continuous motion. So once in a while, you can do anything that makes you relaxed while working. Like I said, the procedures are minimally invasive. I’m neither performing a heart or brain surgery. I’m also not performing an invasive surgery that requires all my attention. Those complaining about the procedures do not know and I try to educate them in my own little way. I hope Nigerians will do more research and see how these things (cosmetic procedures) are done so that they can make constructive criticism.

What can you say about the case of one Mrs Nneka Onwuzuligbo, who was said to have undergone a procedure at your clinic but died later?

The patient had a cosmetic procedure done with us. The procedure was successful. The patient was awake during the procedure. She was fine. She had a medical issue and was referred to a facility where she could be managed. She was there for about 31 days and later died.

What medical issue did she have?

I cannot state that for the sake of confidentiality.

Was it an issue that could result in death?

If managed properly, a patient should not die.

Where do you think things went wrong in the case of the deceased?

When a patient undergoes a cosmetic procedure, there are certain rules they should follow. For example, if you do a liposuction and transfer fat to the buttocks, you are not meant to seat on them (buttocks) for some time. A patient is then placed on a medication. So, anything could have gone wrong and I do not know what could have gone wrong (in her own case).

Did her family contact you or complain to you when she developed a complication?

They told me what was going on. I remember visiting her at the hospital and helping her financially at some point.

Did the family accuse you of being responsible for her death?

Yes, they did. It was what they were told – that I was responsible for her death.

Were you aware she had an underlying medical condition before she had the cosmetic procedure?

No. It was few days after the cosmetic procedure that I got to know about her condition. She started to show some signs and we ran some tests for more investigations and that was how we found that she had an underlying condition. Usually, we take a detailed history to be sure the patient is fit for surgery. We also run baseline investigation. And we did all of that. So, I guess the patient wasn’t aware that she had the condition. It is just like when you have malaria – you may feel it but you are not sure it’s malaria.

What did you advise her to do?

Because it was out of our scope, it was our duty to refer the patient to someone who would manage her better, and we did refer her to an institution to give medical care. She was there for 31 days before she passed on. We referred her to a multi-specialty hospital that has the department where her condition could be managed.

Two other persons, one Taiwo Temilade and one Marlene Oluwakemi, were also said to have lodged complaints against you. Do you know them?

One of them was my patient who went to a different facility to have a free surgery done; I was not the one that performed the procedure. All of a sudden, she came back to say that what we did for her wasn’t appropriate. Marlene is a patient whom we helped out after she reached out to us about her waist and all of that. We decided to offer help during my birthday. I called a senior colleague of mine who performed the procedure on her. Complaints about my services are frivolous. People who have real issues will come to the hospital and we will manage them, not go on the social media.

You were accused of not providing certain documents to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council which received complaints from your clients. Is that true?

They (FCCPC) are not meant to regulate or investigate a medical facility. The Nigerian Medical Association wrote to them and told them not to continue with their investigation. They (FCCPC) did not call me. They did not serve me a letter to say that they would like to find out what happened. They saw a social media publication, jumped at it without calling me to investigate. There was no search warrant. They met a locked facility, broke the gate, broke the door, went in, took pictures and posted them, saying that they were sealing the facility based on reasonable suspicion of illegal activities. This is something I have not been able to come to terms with it. They are just trying to bully my person and practice, because they say they are a Federal Government agency.

Is your clinic registered under the government and recognised by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria?

Yes, it is.

Why didn’t you appear before the commission as alleged by the Chief Executive, Dr Babatunde Irukera?

I wasn’t served. I wasn’t called. I wasn’t given a letter. They did not inform me about anything. It was in court they charged me, and even the judge scolded the chief executive, who was the prosecutor. I don’t know what it is but one thing I know is this man has an agenda.

Have you been threatened by anyone in respect of the case you are involved in?

I have been getting threats from a particular blogger. The blogger’s followers say they are going to maim me. Some of them say things like I should be stoned to death. They sent me messages on Instagram but they are not my followers.

The Nigeria Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos has declined departure of 58 Nigerian doctors from travelling to London

The Nigeria Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos has declined departure of 58 Nigerian doctors who tried travelling aboard a UK bound aircraft flight number ENT 550, registration number SP-ES that flew in from London, it said in a statement.

The press statement signed by Sunday James, the Public Relations Officer of the Service said the Doctors had no Visa for entry to the United Kingdom, while only two had a visa.

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It said the 58 Medical Doctors were declined departure in line with the condition of the law.

“The chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to carry 42 medical doctors for a training program but they were 58 with only two having Visa for entry into the UK, a situation that calls for refusal of departure” it stated.

“ The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave.

“This is to avoid refusal of Entry and repatriation back to Nigeria amidst Covid-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as flouting the Federal Government’s directive on the restriction of international flights unless for an essential reason as approved by the government

“There is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry of Health in Nigeria or any known Medical body notifying the NIS of the travel of this number of Medical Doctors. The Aircraft has departed for London without the Medical Doctors” it said.

Interior Minister: Visas of 15 Chinese Doctors Invited To Nigeria Have Expired

The minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed the expiration of the visas for the Chinese nationals invited to Nigeria in April. Mr Aregbesola made this known at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The Interior Minister, while responding to questions from journalists, said the 15 nationals came on a 30-day Visa from Beijing, the capital state of China.

According to him, the experts, whose visit was sponsored by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), have been stuck in Nigeria because of the travel restrictions.

“They are here on the bill of CCECC, a Chinese company working in Nigeria and doing some projects.”

“They came on a 30-day Visa issued in Beijing and I don’t think I need to tell you why they are here. They are still here not because they have not completed their job but because there is a restriction on travels in Nigeria occasioned by the protocol of COVID-19 team,” Mr Aregbesola said.

The Chinese experts, who arrived on April 8, 2020, have been one of the subjects of controversies among Nigerians because the COVID-19 pandemic was first discovered in Wuhan, a small city in China.

POLITICS NIGERIA reported how the Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, instructed journalists to stop asking him about their whereabouts. Also, recently, Mr Ehanire claimed that the health team have benefitted from online engagements with foreign nationals.