- The Past President, Association of Resident Doctors, University Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, Doctor Chibuzor Ndiekwolu has raised alarm over the Nigerian doctors’ capacity to treat covid19 patients, especially in Enugu state.
Doctor Chibuzor Ndiekwolu made this known while speaking on the readiness of the Resident Doctors in Enugu state for possible outbreak of Corona Virus in the state.
Ndiekwolu said at the moment they cannot treat or manage anyone infected with the virus.
He revealed that the roles of the doctors are simply to screen and notify epidemiologists in the state who will in turn get Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Involved.
He noted that treating person infected with corona virus is not in the purview of the doctors.
Meanwhile, on educational or sensitization aspects, Ndiekwolu hinted that doctors are aware of the pandemic. In the University Teaching Hospital where he works, they had had seminars and lectures on the pandemic. Some doctors were educated on how to protect themselves against the virus etc.
He noted that to a greater extent, Enugu state and Nigeria as a whole have done well in the area of sensitization as well as provision of things like hand sanitizers, face marks, and other Personnel Protective Equipments (PPE) to various clinics.
Also, he insisted that apart from the corona virus, there are many under reported epidemic and infectious diseases that kill more people in the country like laser fever which also needs attention.
He advised that government should not wait until things got worse before they will act or rush into actions. He advised that those PPE should be made available on regular basis and not only when there is a major pandemic.
On containing easy spread of coronavirus in Enugu state, he noted that provision of water in the health facilities and every part of the state will go a long way in stopping the spread.
In his words,” water is a challenge in Enugu state. I know with their power, government can provide water where there is none and if there is water everywhere, it can prevent the easy spread of covid19”, he added.
Meanwhile, we were not able to get in touch with the Enugu state commissioner for water resources or the state Commissioner for Health to react on the availability of water to health facilities in the state, among other concerns.
