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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the professionalism demonstrated by the Nigerian doctors, nurses and other health workers in handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
In a statement yesterday, NUJ national president, Chris Isiguzo, called on the federal and state governments to consider adequate remuneration for health workers tackling the pandemic.
The union said journalists were indeed proud of what indigenous medical practitioners and health workers had achieved so far in the fight against the pandemic, despite poor facilities, hostile working environment and frustrating conditions of service.
NUJ also noted that with very low mortality rate, an increasing number of discharged persons and effective management of positive patients, “our medical professionals have shown that they can compete favourably with the best in the world if given the opportunity and accorded the required recognition.”
Isiguzo said: “The union advises the federal and state governments, the private sector at all levels that the time to invest in the health sector is now. The obvious impact of this rampaging pandemic has made it more imperative for our hospitals to become more functional considering that everybody, no matter the status, has now been circumstantially compelled to patronise our local hospitals.
“NUJ also welcomes with high expectations the measures so far taken by the Federal Government to manage the crisis. It commends the professionalism shown by the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in particular and the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19.”
According to the NUJ president, the union identifies the daily media briefing by the task force and interface with various state governments as important steps that have helped information dissemination, public education and enlightenment. It has also helped to draw national attention to the dangers that lie ahead, the responsibilities of all Nigerians and the need for unity of purpose to defeat the pandemic.”
The union advised governors of states where cases had been recorded, but were yet to order a lockdown, to do so, “as it remains better to err on the side of caution.”
It used the opportunity to advise politicians to stop playing politics with a deadly global health challenge such as coronavirus.
“Politicians are urged to watch closely and learn from what is happening all over the world, where politics has taken the back seat in all countries, including the United States of America that has a general election this year.”
While calling for more sustained palliatives for the vulnerable in society, the union appealed to the citizens to obey all lawful orders to curb the spread of the virus.
