60 health workers and 22 doctors test positive for covid-19 in Rivers state

22 doctors and 60 other health workers have reportedly tested positive for Coronavirus in Rivers state. 

Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) announced this and decried lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their members fighting the virus. 

Speaking in Port Harcourt, NMA’s chairperson in the state Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi called for an upward review of the hazard allowances paid to doctors employed by the state government as she listed some challenges health workers face in the state. 

Adebiyi said; 

“The number of cases in Rivers state moved from zero, in less than 8 weeks, to about 450 confirmed cases with 21 deaths. This is really a worrisome situation.

“More worrisome to us is the rising cases of infection among health workers. Currently 22 doctors and over 60 health workers have been confirmed positive and are receiving treatment across different isolation centers in the state.

“The state has also recorded death of a health worker through coronavirus. This clearly calls for more action from the government, the heads of government and private health facilities in the state, and indeed the general public.

“Health workers in public hospitals are left to provide personal protective equipment for themselves. Government must provide PPEs for all health workers in public and private hospital.

“When health workers are unprotected, the risk for infection rises significantly and our collective effort to fight the pandemic is greatly hampered. This is another issue that must be ungently addressed if we will make progress in our fight against COVID-19.”