Former NMA president tasks FG on life insurance for health workers

A former national President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Idris Omede, has charged the Federal Government to facilitate and commence its planned life insurance for medical and health professionals and other front liners in the fight to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Omede who was also former Commissioner for Health in Kogi State said this in Abuja yesterday, insisting that insurance for health workers would provide risk or hazards support for them, especially during the pandemic.

He also asked the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement its planned interventions to improve health infrastructure, equipment and manpower in the country.

“Medical and healthcare workers have been in the frontline in the commitment to containing the COVID-19 virus in various states isolation centres across the country, characterised by shortage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs), long working hours and weak health system.

“These professionals are exposed to hazards that threaten their health and that of their families. While we continue to advocate and sensitise for prevention, we cannot completely deny the fact that the cases are on the rise without predictable date of the scourge reaching a peak and flattening.

“Herein lies the importance of suspecting, detecting, tracing, testing, isolation, caring and managing confirmed COVID-19 patients.”

He also challenged the Government to use the experience of the COVID-19 whereby the shortage of professionals has continued to be a major setback to see the necessity to have pool of trained personnel to replace workers who may need to self-isolate when they mingle with COVID-19 patients.