Resident Doctors Tackle FG Over Chinese Medical Experts’ Visit
As caution and anxiety over alleged conspiracy theory grow globally against the Chinese, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has thrown its weight behind calls that the Federal Government abandon the plan to host a team of 18 Chinese medical experts as part of measures to assist Nigeria fight the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Vehemently opposing the proposed government’s experience-sharing intentions with the Chinese experts, President of the Association, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, said the move was illegal as all doctors coming into the country must be certified and licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
In a statement issued yesterday challenging the Chinese team’s impending visit, Sokomba urged government to shelve the plan forthwith and immediately engage all key relevant Nigerian medical experts including NARD on the highly contentious medical partnership with the Asians.
He said in engaging all relevant stakeholders, government must present the full intents and purpose of the planned importation of the Chinese experts for full evaluation, cost-benefit analysis and consensus on the best option going forward.
Sokomba said: “The attempt to import human resources for Health from China into Nigeria where many qualified medical doctors and other cadres of health workers are yet to be gainfully employed is the height of insensitivity and disservice on the part of the Federal Government and their advisers.”
“The challenge at hand would have been sufficient marker to agitate the Federal Government to the direction and timing for massive employment of medical and other health care workers to provide enough hands in the industry to battle the COVID 19 as other nations are doing”, the statement said – With Agency report
