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NMA decries non-testing of people with COVID-19 symptoms

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday said the country is not testing enough people for COVID-19 disease.

President of the association, Dr Francis Faduyile stated this in an interview with journalists.

According to him, many people who required COVID-19 test had not been able to gain access to it because there was no synergy between the Federal Government and states.

He further stated that some patients, who required the test because they had shown COVID-19 symptoms, had approached him to assist them to get a place where they could be tested.

He said: “We have not been able to have a harmonious working relationship between the Federal Government and states in our effort to fight COVID-19. This is very unfortunate.

Read also: ICPC TO MDAs: Don’t exploit COVID-19 for personal gains

“The inability of our people to get tested at the right time portends danger for our society and efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. Once we cannot test and ascertain those who have the virus, those who are not confirmed but who have the virus will cause rapid community transmission of the disease.

“We are not privy to what the ministry has and we don’t know how the kits are distributed to test centres across the country. I don’t think it is good for the system.”

The NMA president also insisted that the make up of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was not in order because it was bereft of medical personnel capable of leading the fight against the virus.

“It is important that stakeholders should form the core of the technical team working on COVID-19. This is a medical issue; it is an issue that requires medical personnel to be at the forefront of the fight so that they can galvanise ideas.

“It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Health and the Federal Government have not been able to get those people, rather, they put politicians in the Presidential Task Force”, Faduyile said.

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