The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says almost all doctors at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in Oyo State have contracted COVID-19.
Vice President of NARD, Dr Adejo Arome disclosed this Friday during an appearance on a Channels Television programme.
Lamenting the situation, Arome said, “It is so disheartening that the number of health workers being infected with COVID-19 is increasing daily and it seems nothing is being done to reduce this number.
“Apart from that, almost all the doctors in the University College Hospital (UCH), Paediatric Department are affected. It is like that every day.”
Read Also: IGP Orders Sunday Igboho’s Arrest Over Eviction Notice To Herdsmen
According to him, the situation has dampened the morale of the medical practitioners, as more clinical physicians were living in fear of contracting the virus.
Arome appealed to authorities to provide the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure doctors do not contract the virus while treating patients.
He disclosed that many patients expose physicians to the virus by lying about their COVID-19 status.
“Patients don’t come out truthfully to tell us their symptoms. Almost everybody now knows what the symptoms of COVID-19 are.
“They will go to one hospital, the doctors will tell them that this is what is suspected, they will run away and go to another one,” the NARD chief disclosed.
He said it was high time government instituted policy to ensure the prosecution of patients that deliberately put health workers in harm’s way by lying about their health status.