Medical Guild Urges Government To Dialogue With Health Workers

The Medical Guild comprising of Doctors employed under The Lagos State Government has appealed to both Federal and State Governments to dialogue with stakeholders in the health sector to evolve best strategies towards easing COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.

Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Chairman of the Guild, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Sodipo said the government had been holding meetings with stakeholders in the business sector, stressing that similar meetings should be held with those in the health sector too.

“Stakeholders in the health sector should not be just government employees, but representatives of associations and unions, so that they can chart out the technicalities for implementing gradual ease-out.

“There should be holistic meeting beyond meetings with only medical directors of health facilities.

“Some of them might not have the true picture or state the true situation of things, this is why it is important to discuss with those that have vital information and will implement the strategies,’’ he said.

Sodipo applauded the efforts of the Lagos State Government in increasing hazard allowance of its health workers for April.

He also called for an extension of the lockdown to allow quick maximisation of testing capacity while stressing on the fact that if the lockdown is lifted at this stage of community transmission, there will be more problem

“Lagos State is the epicentre of COVID-19 in Nigeria, and health workers are at increased risk of infection.

Source: NAN