The Nigerian Medical Association says the Lagos Government has neglected to involve the burgeoning private hospital system within the state in the COVID-19 response coordination.

It says the government has, thereby, left a large section of healthcare delivery system in the state out of the global pandemic’s containment loop.

It also raised the alarm over what it describes as ‘poor preparedness’ of public hospitals in Lagos to handle the raging global pandemic, even as the state currently maintains 44 of the 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Lagos branch of the association, in a communiqué jointly signed by its chairman, Dr. Saliu Oseni; and Secretary, Dr. Ramon Moronkola, said, with the isolation and treatment centre at the Lagos Mainland Hospital ,Yaba, becoming inadequate based on the projected rate of rise in number of new cases, the state would soon be overwhelmed.

The NMA also decried the inadequate supply of protective equipment, including face masks, hand sanitizers, and other personal protective equipment in most government hospitals in the state.

The association observed with regrets that the failure of the government in shutting down port of entry and banning international flights had led to failure of primary prevention of the infection’s spread.

The NMA further enumerated what it described as some gaps within the state COVID-19 response that needed to be urgently addressed.

“The isolation and treatment centre in Lagos Mainland Hospital Yaba will soon become inadequate based on the projected rate of rise in number of new cases.

“There is still inadequate training of back-up health personnel on the management of isolation units in case the current trained staff at Lagos Mainland Hospital or elsewhere become overwhelmed.

“That the reports from the NMA Lagos COVID-19 Response Monitoring Crew shows that there are sundry preparedness gaps in many of the public hospitals in the state.

“That the current response system has neglected the burgeoning private hospital system within the state in the response coordination, thereby leaving a large section of healthcare delivery system in the state out of the containment loop.“

The association said while it appreciates the need for volunteers, it expresses reservations for the use of retired personnel as frontline personnel because of the vulnerability of their age group.

The NMA in the communiqué made some recommendations, which included the immediate establishment of a COVID-19 response committee in all public hospitals saddled with the task of coordinating the entire hospital response protocol and regularly advise on new ways to keep the hospital safe.

It also urged the state government to expand the COVID-19 response strategy of the state to include inter-agency collaborations with agencies such as the Nigerian Police, the state and national emergency authorities, the sea- and airport authorities within the state, the Centre for Disease Control, among others, for integrated and holistic response.

Commending the efforts of the state government in the fight against COVID-19, the association further recommended, “That doctors in Lagos State share the view that in public health emergencies, doctors and other health workers are the first line of defense and the last line of retreat, and that as such, we are fully ready to cooperate and work with the LASG in any and all capacities to contain this pandemic within the state and the country at large.”

“That the safety of doctors and other health workers is paramount, and as such, LASG must intensify efforts in procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment within the hospitals in Lagos.

“There is also urgent need for expansion of the welfare packages for doctors and other health-workers in the center of the pandemic. These should normally include life insurance and temporary accommodation for high-risk workers to prevent risks to their families.”


https://healthwise.punchng.com/lagos-has-left-out-private-hospitals-in-checking-covid-19-spread-nma/

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