Health

Return stolen medical equipment and vaccines, NMA begs hoodlums

Published

3 years ago

2020/11/03

The Nigerian Medical Association has reached out to individuals in custody of items and hospital equipment looted by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protests to return them as some of them could be very harmful to the human body.

The NMA said this on Monday in a statement by its President, Prof. Innocent Ujah; and Secretary-General, Dr Philips Ekpe.

Describing the looting as a setback for Nigeria, the NMA called on all security agencies to “refocus their security apparatus on hospitals, clinics and medical stores all over the country,” for medics to give quality health to Nigerians.

The statement reads partly, “The unfortunate action of the hoodlums will further weaken the delivery of health services as Nigeria continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in an already near comatose health system and will certainly be a setback on our country’s desire to achieve the Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals.

“The NMA therefore calls on those who are in custody of these medicaments and hospital equipment to return them either to be used or destroyed professionally because some of these medicaments can be very harmful to the human body.

“The vaccines that were carted away are meant to prevent diseases but the action of the hoodlums may lead to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.

“We therefore, urge all those in custody of these vaccines to return them to the health facilities for revalidation for possible use. No form of attack on any health facility and hospital personnel is tolerated in any civilized country.”

In the last few weeks, hundreds of Nigerians were captured on video across the country, looting COVID-19 Palliatives warehouses, government facilities and even private homes belonging to government officials, with several State Governments resorting to 24hour curfews to restore order.