Nearly all doctors in UCH Ibadan are infected with COVID-19 ─NARD

*Nigeria’s National Association of Resident Doctors says rising cases of COVID-19 infection have dampened the morale of medical practitioners in the country

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

As the second wave of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to disrupt socio-economic life of Nigerians, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has disclosed almost all doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in Oyo State, are infected with the virus.

Adejo Arome, Vice-President of NARD, who stated this in an interview on Channels TV Friday, January 22, 2021, said, “it is so disheartening that the number of health workers being infected with COVID-19 is increasing daily, and it seems nothing is being done to reduce this number.

“Apart from that, almost all the doctors in the University College Hospital (UCH), Paediatric Department are affected. It is like that every day.”

The NARD Vice-President stated the situation has dampened the morale of medical practitioners in the country, noting that most doctors in clinical practice risked being hit with COVID-19.

Arome called on the relevant authorities to provide medical workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)

Most patients expose doctors to the virus by not being truthful about their medical history, said he.

The Vice-President noted: “Patients don’t come out truthfully to tell us their symptoms. Almost everybody now knows what the symptoms of COVID-19 are.

“They will go to one hospital, the doctors will tell them that this is what is suspected, they will run away and go to another one.”

In view of the situation with the health workers, the NARD chief urged the Federal Government to initiate policies that will ensure that patients who lie to doctors were being prosecuted.