Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Lagos chapter has embarked on indefinite sit-at-home order to protest incessant Police harassment to Doctors and other health care workers.
This was contained in a statement signed by NMA Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola who ordered Doctors to stay at home to avoid harassment from security operatives.
NMA accused Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos state Commissioner of Police of disregarding the IGP’s directive which exempts all essential workers from the 8pm curfew.
The Association disclosed it can no longer continue to work under a “confused arrangement” which is unsafe for health care workers.
The Lagos State Branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for its members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.
“We resolve that all doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos to proceed on a sit-at-home starting from 6.00p.m today, May 20, indefinitely.
“Until such time when the state government and the Commissioner of Police, are clear on how they wish to operationalise the lockdown/restriction of movement directive as it relates to essential service and service providers, including healthcare services and doctors.”
The Association disclosed Doctors will return to work after the state government and Police issue a statement on the status of essential workers from the ongoing curfew.
“It should be advertised in the social and mainstream media, and a copy submitted to the Secretariat of the Lagos State Branch of NMA.
“Whereas, the directives of President Muhamadu Buhari, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health workers from the ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions.
“The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, are not exempted.
“As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was inundated yesterday evening with several cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers and men of the Police Command in Lagos State.”