The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) called on the federal government to order investigation into the coronavirus-free status of Kogi and Cross Rivers states.
Both states are the only two yet to confirm any case of the virus, a record widely disputed by health authorities and federal officials who believe governments in Kogi and Cross River are discouraging tests for people with symptoms of COVID-19.
The association said in a statement by its president, Dr Francis Faduyile that an investigation into the status and management response to the coronavirus by the two state governments is in the interest of safeguarding Nigeria’s public health, and to recommend appropriate remedial intervention if necessary, to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Health experts say the true spread and toll to the contagion is vastly understated due to under-testing as the country is besieged with multiple testing challenges, including delays in the collection of samples, and submission of results with many states not working in sync with the national response strategy.
Despite being surrounded by states with confirmed cases of the virus, the government in Kogi has at least once scuttled efforts by Nigeria’s infectious disease agency, NCDC, to coordinate COVID-19 testing, alleging that there is a plot by unnamed persons to ensure Kogi records cases of the virus.
According to Premium Times, a delegation comprising officials of the NCDC and the department of hospital services of the federal ministry of health had to flee Kogi on Thursday, May 7 for fear of being quarantined by the state government.
The delegation, which set out on the mission to ascertain the claim by the state to be COVID-19 free and to boost its testing capacity, was reportedly not received with open arms, a development that further pitted state authorities against federal officials.
The NMA, in a statement on Sunday, said the development made it difficult for the NCDC to discharge its duties.
The association said it vehemently decried the stance of the governments of Kogi and Cross River to NCDC’s advisory.
“The NCDC (Establishment) Act 2018 empowers the NCDC to lead the national response in disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. It is also to coordinate diverse kinds of feedback thereof.
“However, the NCDC has been unable to discharge these functions in some states of the Federation. Apart from threats and in some instances, prevention from collecting and testing samples of suspected cases of COVID-19; the pronouncements of some political leaders constitute outright interference in NCDC’s coordination of case treatment for effectiveness and learning lessons,” said Faduyile.
Kogi and Cross Rivers maintained their COVID-19 free status despite being flagged by NCDC director-general, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, for turning in a very low number of samples for testing.
The Kogi branch of the NMA had expressed fears that the consequences of not testing people for the COVID-19 may be too enormous to deal with.
Faduyile said while it would be welcome news for a ‘no-positive-case’ status in any state or FCT, “every state must ensure that it is following the testing guideline so that no cases are missed, as that would seriously imperil the whole national response to controlling COVID-19 pandemic.”
