The President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Professor Innocent Ujah, says many Nigerians are waiting to see people dropping dead on the streets before believing COVID-19 is real.
Ujah spoke on Channels Television‘s Sunrise Daily on Monday, saying only illiterates expect to see such before believing.
The NMA President said it would never happen because doctors were there to prevent the situation from deteriorating to such an extent.
“If we are waiting for people to die on the road before we intervene, then there is no need to have doctors.
“We have what we call preventive medicine. We want to prevent, we don’t want people to die. Doctors are trained not to be looking for dead people. Doctors are trained to prevent people from dying.
“How many people have Nigerians seen dying even in the hospital, not to talk about a situation where the whole world is on its knees because of COVID?
“So, that statement, I think, is largely for those who are illiterates,” Ujah said.
Read Also: Insecurity: Ex-DSS DG tells Buhari to surprise Nigerians by changing service chiefs
Ujah said it was very painful for medical practitioners to continue to make sacrifices to cater for COVID-19 patients while many people continue to deny its existence.
“Nobody should have the illusion that COVID-19 does not exist. Even policymakers are making statements that COVID-19 does not exist.
“It’s very painful when the whole world is on its knees because of COVID-19 and somebody will come out and say that it does not exist,” the NMA President said.