Valentine’s Day: ‘I’ve not seen my wife in 8 months’, say frontline workers

Some frontline health workers at isolation and treatment centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged the Federal Government, individuals and corporate organisations to recognize their efforts in the nation’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. They made the call on Sunday in Abuja when the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 media […]

Some frontline health workers at isolation and treatment centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged the Federal Government, individuals and corporate organisations to recognize their efforts in the nation’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

They made the call on Sunday in Abuja when the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 media team visited some isolation centres and the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Centre of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The visit to assess the situation at the centres and to also celebrate Valentine’s Day with healthcare professional at the facilities.

According to them, they were vulnerable to the virus as they were the first responders to patients in the country.

Speaking on the impacts of the virus on them and their families as frontline workers, the Manager of the ThisDay Isolation/Treatment Centre, Mr. Henry Nwachokor, said he was at the centre at all times, to keep to ensure that things go as expected.

According to him, since there are no windows at the centre, there must be Air Condition at all times and also there must be electricity supply every time so that people will not suffocate.

On who his job affected him and his families, he said, “This has impact on me. For instance, I have not seen my wife for the past eight months. So, this is how it is and I hope people will continue to take responsibility. This will make things easier for us and the nation,” Nwachokor said.

On his part, the Medical Superintendent and Team Lead at the centre, Dr. Victor Molokwu, speaking on the current situation of COVID-19 in the country, said with the centre and reports that they received across the country, the cases were decreasing.

According to him, this showed that Nigerians are taking responsibility, especially that the government has put measures in place that they cannot enter places without facemasks.

“And from what we are seeing here to, we don’t have much severe cases as it used to be between December 2020 and second week of January this year,” Molokwu said.

He said that COVID-19 is real and that people must take responsibility in whatever they do, by washing their hands frequently, wearing their facemasks, keeping social distance and adhere to other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).

On the welfare of the frontline health workers, he said that basically, it is the Federal Ministry of Health that is responsible for this as they were the one that employed some people, including the cleaners and they were only paid twice since July 2020.

“And they come here every day, they are taking risks. So, what happened to the ad-hoc staff,” he said.

He however said that though they got assurance that the FCTA will address the challenges, but there was nothing from the Federal Ministry of Health.

At the National Hospital Isolation/Treatment Centre, the Matron Duty Manager, Mrs Ebere Ogbonna, said that health workers, who were treating COVID-19 patients, already work under very stressful conditions and their families were also at risk to the virus.

She therefore urged the government to recognized their contributions and dedication to service by paying all their allowances on time.

While at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, the COVID-19 Laboratory Manager, Dr. Catherine Okoi, said that since the outbreak, the agency has worked tirelessly to achieve testing for the virus through the rapid expansion of laboratories across the country and increased surveillance activities.

She, however, said that the reality of increasing transmission, test positivity rate, and confirmed cases remain a course for concern in this second wave the country was experiencing.

She said, “At NCDC, we have continued our operations even today as the world celebrate valentine, we are here to serve our country to the best of our ability. Several colleagues across the country will be away from their loved ones on the field, strengthening the nation’s public health response to this pandemic.”