The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that based on the concerns raised by Nigerians, the Chinese doctors and nurses being expected in Nigeria to assist with the coronavirus pandemic would first be quarantined for 14 days.
Gbajabiamila said this decision was reached based on his meeting with the two ministers of health on Monday, adding that the doctors and nurses would at no time have “any physical contact with any patient.”
On his Facebook page, the Speaker said, “I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese doctors and nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“We extracted the following commitments from them; One, the Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria. Two, the doctors and nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient.
“Three, there will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and our engagement continues.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, has explained the role of the Chinese health experts expected to arrive in Nigeria.
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Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, noted that the experts were expected in the country on the invitation of a Chinese company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
He said this during the press briefing of the committee on Monday in Abuja, and stressed that the development was to complement the efforts of the Nigerian government to curtail the spread of coronavirus just like other nations around the world were doing.
“I wish to clarify that all the countries of the world are seeking assistance and are receiving help in the fight against COVID-19 – even the almighty United States is looking for help elsewhere,” he said.
“The support coming from China is a cooperate social responsibility initiated by CCECC, a company with a total volume of infrastructural contracts in Nigeria worth over N10 billion.”
Yetunde Adegoke
