The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA
has directed doctors in Lagos to proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home
order to protest what they described as ‘conflicting directives by the
government and incessant police harassment’ on medical doctors and other
health workers in the state.
In a press statement made available to Vanguard, and jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NMA,
Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, the sit-at-home
order is expected to begin today, (Wednesday), 20th May 2020 from 6 PM.
The medical doctors maintained that it was no longer safe for their
members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present
confused arrangement.
They said the development became necessary as a result of the
numerous complaints of police harassment from their members who were
either going home after close of work, and some on transit to heed to
emergency calls at the various hospitals.
They lamented that, whereas the directives of President Muhammadu
Buhari, through the Presidential Taskforce on COVID 19, was clear on the
exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health
workers, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State,
Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives that
essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, were not
exempted.
“As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the NMA
was inundated yesterday (Tuesday, 19th of May, 2020) evening of several
cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other
health-workers by officers and men of the Lagos State Police command.
The healthcare workers were either resuming duty, returning home, or on-transit to heed an emergency call.
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