COVID-19: Reps Minority Caucus Reject Chinese Doctors

Ndudi Elumelu-led Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has rejected the decision of the Federal Government to import Chinese doctors into the country over the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes as the Federal Government, through the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Monday denied inviting the Chinese doctors to come into the country.

The Minister claimed the foreign doctors are coming based on the arrangement of a group of Chinese companies based in Nigeria as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

However, the minority Caucus, in a statement issued by its Leader , Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Tuesday warned that bringing in medical personnel from the epicenter of the dreaded disease will expose the nation to further danger.

Specifically, Elumelu-led caucus asked the Federal Government to immediately rescind its decision and jettison all plans to import doctors from the hotbed of the plague into our country at this critical time.

The lawmakers noted that Nigerian doctors and nurses are doing well so far in managing the scourge, and expressed fears that “bringing in Chinese medical personnel, whose status, intentions and scope cannot be easily ascertained and controlled is totally against our national interest”

According to Elumelu, the Federal Government should note the apprehensions of Nigerians and professional bodies including the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) over the decision.

The caucus noted that this is particularly after alleged escalated of the pandemic in certain countries after Chinese doctors were reportedly involved, in addition to widespread trepidations over the safety of medical equipment and kits from China at this point in time.

The Minority leader stressed that at such critical time, the safety and wellbeing of our citizens must be paramount and anything that is capable of further jeopardizing their lives must be avoided.

Elumelu however commended Nigerians for their resilience and collaborative effort in fighting the spread of the pandemic in the country.

He urged them to continue to adhere to health safety procedures of personal hygiene and social distancing as well as being their brother’s keepers at this time, while expressing confidence that with the combined effort of all, the nation will defeat the pandemic.