The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), has called on the federal and states governments to provide the needed motivation to its members who are the frontline workers in the fight against the Covid-19.
This, according to it, will enable the health workers put in their best in providing the needed care to Nigerians.
MHWUN gave the advice in a statement signed by its National President, Biobelemoye Josiah; and Secretary General, Silas Adamu, in Abuja, Monday.
While expressing reservation on the decision by the federal government to ease the lockdown despite the increase in the number of the confirmed cases of the Covid-19, the MHWUN advised its members to apply wisdom when treating patients.
“However, MHWUN, being front line workers in the fight against the dreaded disease, we are concerned that the easing of the lockdown will bring about dramatic increase in the number of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country.
“Our fear is premised on the experience of other countries where after the lockdown was relaxed, the spread of the disease was unimaginable.
“While we commend the efforts of the federal government for the steps so far taken in the fight against the disease, we call for caution and stringent measures to ensure that the decision to ease the lock down does not take us back to level zero where new cases will spring up to the extent that the hitherto weak, and further weakened health system and ill-motivated health workers will be overwhelmed. This certainly will be disastrous.
“They (governments) also need to provide large quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other consumables to health workers at all levels to enable them do their work professionally.
“This is important because the health worker is not on a “kamikaze” mission, hence must be alive and healthy before he/she can save other lives.
“The governments at all levels must also find ways of motivating health workers so that they can put in their very best,” the statement stressed.
The Union insisted that Covid-19 is real with devastating consequences, and therefore, called on its members to “apply wisdom and observe all known protocols to ensure that they stay safe.
“They should see every patient as a suspected Covid-19 carrier but be polite when dealing with such patients, unless proved otherwise.
“On the other hand, as the lockdown is being eased, we call on all Nigerians to endeavor to stay safe by observing all regulations and guidelines, especially wearing of face masks in public places, frequent washing of hands and observing social/physical distancing as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).”
The MHWUN, further appealed to the federal government to pay all withheld salaries of its members in FMC Owerri, LUTH, JUTH and others.
