DO NOT ASK ME ABOUT CHINESE DOCTORS WHEREABOUTS – MINISTER OF HEALTH
Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, on Thursday, told journalists not to disturb his ministry over the whereabouts of Chinese medical team because they were not invited by the Federal Government, but CCECC to support the fight against COVID-19.
Ehanire, while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 on Thursday, said the Chinese team is not guests of the Federal Government but the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
“I want to explain that first of all, I think not all of them are doctors and I heard that some of them are technicians but they are the staff of CCECC.
“The ministry of health is not their host, so we cannot always explain what happened to them or where they are,” he said.
Recall, The 15-member team of Chinese medical personnel arrived in the country on April 8 “to share their experiences in fighting the COVID-19”.
Photo: Chinese Medical Team on arrival into Nigeria
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had kicked against the involvement of Chinese doctors in the fight against COVID-19, saying the country had enough doctors to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NMA also described the move as “a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions.”
But the Federal Government had said the Chinese team would not be involved in treating COVID-19 patients.
Ehanire, however, insisted then that the experts would be sharing their experience after making progress in the fight against the virus.
He urged Nigerians to comply with all safety measures, added that face masks would help in protecting citizens in places where social distancing is flouted.
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