Covid-19: Take practical steps to stem spread, group urges FG
stemming the tide
Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB) has called on government to take practical steps to stem COVID-19 spread and the associated financial meltdown.
It also warned that government’s shoddy approach to the pandemic may stir social and economic upheavals in the country.
In a statement on Friday signed by Adewale Adeoye, the body noted that government at all levels are to blame for the upsurge in the number of victims of the virus.
The group noted that the upsurge in the number of victims could be attributed to lack of pro-active national strategic plan and contempt of critical stake holders in the campaign against the pandemic.
ASCAB led by prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana said government seems to be more interested in the politics of the pandemic than a critical understanding of the pandemic for a holistic solution.
It added that government has so far been paying lip service to arresting the spread of the virus.
ASCAB noted further that bed spaces, testing kits, protective garments for health workers remain scarce for public use but are always available for government functionaries and their families.
“We question the capacity of the government to deal decisively with the COVID-19 spread because of so many policy somersaults, an indication of confusion and lack of capacity on the part of the government. The rise from less than 100 to four digits gives room for deep concern. It raises fundamental questions about the future of public health and livelihood of Nigerians which on the long run will be grievously affected by COVID-19”,
The group said the Nigerian government was not doing the citizens any favour by insulating them from COVID-19 but rather mandated by law to keep Nigerians safe as stated in the country’s ground norm.
It said “the protection of Nigerians from the whirlwind of COVID-19 is a right and the constitutional responsibility of the government citing the 2018 signing of the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, (NDDC) into law” adding that the mission of the NDDC is ‘to protect the health of Nigerians through evidence based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response activities, using a one health approach, guided by research and led by a skilled workforce.’
It drew the attention of the Government to the core functions of the NDDC saying, “Before the announcement of the lockdown, many coronavirus patients that required emergency treatment were refused treatment by public hospitals.
“Having endorsed such official negligence we are compelled to point out that the Minister of Health has breached section 10 (1) and (2) of the National Health Act 2014 which provides that “A health care provider, health worker or health establishment shall not refuse a person emergency treatment for any reason. A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100, 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both. ”
The recent briefing of the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha also drew the ire of the coalition of over 70 organisations working on COVID-19
The body noted that from the briefing it was clear the battle against COVID-19 was not making the expected speedy progress.
ASCAB said the constitution anticipated a pandemic like COVID-19 and that failure by the Government and its officials to prevent the spread and save Nigerians remains a brutal violation of the constitution.
