Chinese medical team
Great Achiever Magazine reports that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), had vehemently opposed the invitation of the Chinese Medical team, claiming that there are qualified medical experts in Nigeria who have been up to the task, and doing great jobs in treatment and containment of the spread of coronavirus pandemic since it broke out.
The Federal government on the other hand disagreed with the NMA, saying that the Chinese medical team will only give support to their Nigerian counterparts without taking their jobs, and also donate medical equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The arrival of the Chinese medical team on Wednesday, was greeted with mixed feelings among Nigerians.
While some Nigerians lauded the arrival of the team, others expressed disappointment.
In the midst of the controversy generated by the arrival of the medical team, the Managing Director of China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), Micheal Jiang, issued a press statement to clear the air on the issues.
The statement reads: "With the backing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and People’s Republic of China, China Railway Construction Corporation (‘CRCC’), through its subsidiary, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (‘CCECC’), is supporting Nigeria in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that is adversely affecting livelihoods and economies across the world by making available necessary medical equipment and health consumables.
"Assisted by the Nigerian Government, CCECC is delivering amongst others, around 16-tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers and other critical care items, through a chartered flight operated by Air Peace.
"The chartered flight is due to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 8 April 2020. These items required by the Nigerian Government will be handed over by CCECC to relevant authorities.
"Considering its large number of employees in Nigeria, CCECC at its own cost, will dispatch a 15-member working team from CRCC, 12 of whom are experienced medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology. Members of the team also have relevant experience in the prevention and diagnosis of the COVID-19.
"All members of the working team have tested negative to COVID-19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by undertaking 14 days in quarantine. The primary purpose of the working team is to escort the medical supply, provide guidance for their usage and distribution.
"They will also provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare assistance where necessary. They are also coming with adequate PPE and medical items for the employees.
"In addition, under the directive of Chinese Embassy and in response to the Nigerian Government’s request, the working team may also share with Nigerian medical teams effective methods on how to contain the COVID-19 and provide advice on the use of relevant medical equipment. The team is not coming to treat Covid-19 patients in Nigeria.
"Finally, in keeping with its corporate value, “Stride with Nigeria”, CCECC is participating in the construction of two COVID-19 response facilities in the FCT for free as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities. The facilities are a 196-bed at “ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre,” in collaboration with Sahara Group and Arise News; and the 150-bed “Idu Depot Treatment Centre.”
Great Achiever Magazine reports that, while some Nigerians saw the Chinese gesture as a welcome development, others were opposed to it.
Some participants on the whatsapp platform of Great Achiever Magazine expressed divergent views on the gesture.
In the words of Chief (Mrs) Morenike Babington-Ashaye, a Chartered Accountant, she queried on who would use the drugs coming from China, where COVID-19 originated from.
She said this time around, the Federal government is on its own, advising people to speak to their governors and hold them accountable.
Chief (Mrs) Babington-Ashaye said: "Who are the people behind the decision to bring drugs and doctors from China?. This is unjustifiable
"The Nigerian Medical Association gave good reasons why we do not need these gifts. The same gifts that sold Africa into slavery. When will our government learn? Is there free lunch anywhere?
"All I know is that nobody or government has the right to sell us into slavery. In Ogun State, we learnt that the Chinese are claiming to have a kingdom already.
"This is pure conspiracy against the Nigerian people. Did the Federal government obtain the approval of the National Assembly? What the Federal Government has done is against national health security. Let us stop defending what is not right. Who is CCECC compared to our medical expert?
"Our Governors should be held responsible. The fact that the Federal Government accepted these suspicious free gifts does not give the State Governors the authority to allow their citizens to be used as guinea pigs".
She concluded by saying that Nigeria is on the journey to second slave trade, "Trans China Atlantic Slave Trade".
But contrary to Chief (Mrs) Babington-Ashaye's opinion, Barrister Yekeen Ajibola Odusanya, believed that many would take the drugs donated by the medical team.
Barrister Odusanya asked why people always read negative meanings to every step the government takes.
He advised the people to read the statement from the MD of CCECC before condemning the government for the invitation.
Odusanya asked whether NMA can provide 1% of what the Chinese medical team is donating to Nigeria.
He said: "For your information, the invitation is at the expense of the CCECC and the Federal Government of Nigeria is not spending any money that warrants National Assembly's approval. It is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to Nigeria.
"Naturally the NMA would feel bad as if they are being downgraded. But these people are not coming to teach our Doctors how to treat Malaria. They are coming from a vantage position of exchanging ideas with our Medical Professionals on how they tackled this COVID-19.
"They said it clearly that they are not here to treat Nigerians. In addition many vital equipment and protective things were brought to safeguard our medical personnel.
"If America is accepting support from Russia and other countries, who is Nigeria to reject support at this hour of emergency, especially free support.
"What people don't know is that the relationship between Nigeria and China has gone too deep. Currently China handles more than 50% of our infrastructural development. Some of them pass through Ogun State axis. Therefore, It is not every government step we should be reading meanings into".
Barrister Odusanya concluded by saying that the Chinese medical experts are being subjected to every Nigerian medical protocol on their arrival, notwithstanding their testing negative for COVID-19 from China.
In his own reaction, Mr Jide Odusanya said, people are opposed to the invitation of the Chinese because the government had failed in all spheres of governance.
He said: "Majority of us don't trust the government anymore. Everything about Federal Government is propaganda.
"Let everyone go and look at our debt portfolio between 2015 and 2020, vis-Ã -vis infrastructural development. Not to even talk about lopsided appointments and lies about fighting insurgency.
"Do you know how much was spent by NNPC just to explore crude oil in the North which eventually resulted in nullity? N500b for coronavirus, another $150Million. Where are all these monies going? We are in trouble in this part of the world.
"They do things with impunity. Despite the advice from NMA, we shall see where this will lead us to.
"The medical team could have sent those equipment and other items without escorting the plane to Nigeria.
"Nigerian doctors have been successfully managing the virus to the extent that World Health Organisation gave them commendation and supported Nigeria with some supplies.
"The Chinese should have sent those supplies without any doctor accompanying them. We need the supplies and not the personnel".
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