By Appolos Christian
Poised to ensure that Nigerian health workers are well protected from contracting the deadly Coronavirus, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has donated over 50,000 face masks, 15,200 sanitizers, 2,000 disinfectants and. 1,200 hand wash to its council centres across the country.
The National President of MHWUN, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, at the flag off of the distribution of the personal protective equipments, hinted that his union was troubled by the news that over 400 health workers have contracted Covid-19, therefore decided to take the lead in ensuring that its members, being the forefront combatants against Coronavirus; are be provided with adequate PPEs.
Explaining further, the MHWUN president said; “Since the outbreak of Covid 19 over 400 members of JOHESU (Joint Health Sector Unions) have been infected by coronavirus, we also need to support our own members who are working and sacrificing their lives for the generality of Nigerians
“Medical and Health Workers’ Union value life, which means that the life of our members are very important to us. Therefore we are poised to protect them while they fight for us all. We intend to make provision of PPEs for health workers in various isolation centres.
“We want to ensure that the centres where our members work are protected by being regularly disinfected. We have plans to continue this while we pray that Covid-19 be completely defeated.”
Listed among the councils that will receive the PPEs are, Lagos, FCT, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Ogun, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Ebonyi, Plateau, Jigawa, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ondo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara, Anambra, Yobe, Benue, Ekiti, Taraba, Kogi and Cross River.
Meanwhile, Aliyu Mohammed, Director Human Resources who represented Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Mashi, said the challenges that Covid-19 has thrown up in the health sector was becoming overwhelming, hence the Federal Government was appreciative of any donations made by public spirited Nigerians towards curbing the pandemic.
He noted that for some unusual reasons Nigeria has been able to brace up to the challenges better than other advanced countries with technological ingenuity.
“The emergence of Covid-19 has changed the way we live our lives and the health system in general, such that even the developed countries have been overwhelmed, talk less of Nigeria.
“The virus has affected the economy drastically, hence government cannot meet all the challenges that has been thrown up, that is why we welcome such donations by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
“We have many frontline health workers taking up these challenges on behalf of other Nigerians and the federal government is always appreciate of these efforts, so we crave your understanding and more support to improve on our health care delivery in the country, “he stated.
Earlier, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja said health workers deserved commendation for being the first set of people to raise awareness on Covid-19 and its preventive measures.
He said when many Nigerians saw health workers putting on face mask, they became aware of the seriousness of the virus and the need to stay safe.
“Medical and Health Workers Union were the first set of people that produced face masks and other PPEs and started distributing to Nigerians, “he stated.
