Looting of health facilities: Expect childhood diseases’ outbreak-NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association has condemned attacks on health facilities and looting of medical consumables by hoodlums seeking COVID-19 palliatives. NMA President, Innocent Ujah and Secretary-General, Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe, in a statement, said the vaccines carted away were meant to prevent diseases, but the action of the hoodlums might lead to resurgence of vaccine-preventable […]

The Nigerian Medical Association has condemned attacks on health facilities and looting of medical consumables by hoodlums seeking COVID-19 palliatives.

NMA President, Innocent Ujah and Secretary-General, Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe, in a statement, said the vaccines carted away were meant to prevent diseases, but the action of the hoodlums might lead to resurgence of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.

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The association said the wanton destruction of hospital facilities was capable of endangering the health of Nigerians and had irredeemable negative impact on the health system.

“One of the immediate effects of this unbecoming behaviour of the hoodlums is the danger the public is exposed to. This may have long life effects not only on human beings but also on the environment.

“The unfortunate action of the hoodlums will further weaken the delivery of health services as Nigeria continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in an already near-comatose health system and will certainly be  a setback on our country’s desire to achieve the Universal Health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals.”

It called on those in the custody of the medicaments and hospital equipment to return them either to be used or destroyed professionally because some of them could be very harmful to the human body.

It also called on security agencies to refocus their apparatus on hospitals, clinics and medical stores all over the country.