Sad as Doctor treating COVID-19 patients in Edo tests positive

A Nigerian doctor attending to Coronavirus patients at the Irrua
Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, has tested positive for the
virus. This was revealed by the President of the National Association of
Resident Doctors, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, in an interview with Channels TV
today April 2nd.

Sokomba who was on the show to speak on the Health care system in
Nigeria, said that at the moment, six doctors had died of Lassa fever
while one unnamed doctor had been infected with COVID-19.

“At the moment, as health workers continue to play their part in
containing the spread of the disease, the health workers are not
protected. One of our colleagues died just yesterday from Lassa fever.
This is the state of our health care institutions and that is the fate
of most health care workers in the country.

Just yesterday again, one of our doctors in Irrua Specialist Hospital
Irrua Edo State had tested positive for the COVID-19 disease. What that
means is that these doctors that are testing positive to various
diseases are being left alone to take care of themselves” he disclosed

Sokomba disclosed that medical doctors in Nigeria have no form of
insurance or compensation in the event of an unfortunate occurence while
on duty.

There is no form of life insurance for them. There is no form of
compensation. To say the least, what these doctors benefit at the end of
every month as hazard allowance is N5, 0000. So, we are worried that if
victory against COVID-19, Lassa fever outbreak in the country is to be
achieved, the welfare and wellbeing of doctors and other health workers
who are on the frontline must be secured.” he said

As it stands, Edo state has two confirmed cases of Coronavirus. The
first is the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye.