Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols In Nigeria Is A Challenge - NMA President

The President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Innocent Ujah, has stressed the need for compliance with COVID-19 protocols outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), stating that compliance has been a challenge.

Ujah said that although people used faced masks as prescribed, other protocols like social distancing, the use of hand sanitisers, among others have been abandoned.

He said, “The issue of compliance with the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) protocols – the use of face masks, hand sanitisers, and social distancing – is a very big challenge. The issue of social distancing has failed in Nigeria. It is not likely to succeed and therefore we need another strategy, other ways we can improve the compliance to the NCDC protocol.

“Yes, by and large, many people now use face masks but unfortunately when you go to villages and markets, none of the protocols are practiced at all. Maybe the airlines and a few others like the churches obey these protocols.

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“I have always talked about the research angle of the PTF. We need to find out, we don’t need to speculate, we should have gone to town and gotten a quick response and analyse the data to know why people are not complying, and then we will navigate to see how they will comply.

“The doctors are ever committed to this cause and we charge them not to relent despite the harsh environment.

“The reality is that Covid-19 is with us and we need to up our game. The Nigerian stakeholders, the Nigerian people and the National Orientation Agency must also improve its own sensitisation and communication channels because we really are in trouble if we do not at very quickly.”