The Cross River
chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has withdrawn its services
from all medical facilities in the state.
Cross River is the
only state in the country where any case of COVID-19 has not been officially
confirmed.
In a letter
addressed to Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, on Sunday, Agam Ayuk, state
chairman of the association, said the lives of the doctors are at risk over the
COVID-19 situation in the state.
The association
wondered why the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has not included
Cross River in its daily update of COVID-19.
The association
stated five positive cases recorded in the state had their tests done at an
approved laboratory of the NCDC, yet their results have not been published in
the agency’s situation report.
“The Association
demands explanation from NCDC, why the five (5) COVID-19 confirmed cases from
UCTH carried out at the NCDC accredited Molecular Laboratory at Alex Ekwueme
University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, have not reflected in
the daily situation report of NCDC long after results had been transmitted to
UCTH since July 1, 2020. Congress demands update of the NCDC situation report
as a matter of urgent public health interest,” the association said.
“Congress demands
explanations from NCDC, why epidemiology code numbers have to be generated by
Cross River State Ministry of Health before results of samples sent by UCTH to
an NCDC approved Molecular Laboratory can be published by NCDC despite having
approved UCTH as an independent Test Centre.
“The NCDC is put on
notice that the Cross River State Government has abdicated her responsibility
of contact tracing, treatment and care for the five (5) confirmed cases which
may not be unconnected with the delay in publication of the results by NCDC.
“The members of the
Association and residents of Cross River State have been put in a precarious
public health and safety situation due to the confusion and uncertainty created
by the delayed updating of the results by NCDC.
“Congress demands
explanation from NCDC why despite several complaints of compromised testing in
the State, investigations have not commenced on the unethical activities
carried out by Cross River State COVID-19 Task Force.”
The association also
passed a vote of no confidence on Betta Edu, the commissioner for health, over
alleged unethical handling of COVID-19 testing in the state.
Last week, Ikpeme
Ikpeme, chief medical director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
(UCTH), had announced that five patients tested positive for COVID-19 in the
hospital.
But the state
government accused him of spreading falsehood. Ben Ayade, the governor, had
repeatedly said efforts made by his administration has prevented a COVID-19
outbreak in the state.
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