SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO ALL HEALTH WORKERS IN NIGERIA ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA BY PRINCE PETERS A. ADEYEMI (JP) GENERAL SECRETARY, NON-ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF EDUCATIONAL AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS (NASU).
Our hearts in the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) go to all workers in the health sector of the country on the Coronavirus pandemic especially our Comrades in the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), who are at the forefront of the battle to save lives of Nigerians and nationals of other countries who have tested positive and and are placed in isolation in the various Isolation Centers across the country and those who will test positive to the virus. We salute the comradeship among this workers with no barriers based on profession and rank. All hands have been on deck, from cleaners, drivers to medical doctors including other categories of health workers as stated by the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Tuesday 7th April 2020 during the commissioning of the hospitals Isolation Wards. One thing common to all of them is the joint efforts to save lives of their patients at the risk of their personal lives and those of their families.
It is heartwarming to us in NASU to note that the Federal and States Governments as well as Captains of industries have realised the importance of adequate funding of the health sector, which includes equipping hospitals, providing funds for continuous research and training of health workers as well as showing concern for workers’ welfare in the interest of the nation at large.
We hope and pray that what we are currently witnessing in the health sector, will not just be a flash in the pan, which will cease at the end of the pandemic. There is no doubt that if the three tiers of governments – federal, states and local governments with periodic strategic interventions from the private sector, continue at this pace, there will no longer be a need for government officials and other well to do Nigerians to seek medical treatment abroad for every ailment. Nigeria may as well, become a medical destination for our fellow Africans.
We wish to express our appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, States Governors, Captains of industries as well as members of various Committees working at the Federal and States levels for their time, efforts and financial commitment aimed at drastically reducing the spread of the global pandemic in Nigeria.
We call on all Nigerians to obey and abide by all the guidelines, instructions and directives of governments including laws put in place aimed at securing the lives of Nigerians and containing the spread of the virus as these measures are in theoverall interest of all. On the other hand, we appeal to the Federal and StatesGovernments as well as Nigerians of means, to increase and appropriately coordinate all welfare packages they are putting together, so that these welfare packages can reach the masses of this country who have been hard heat by the ongoing lockdowns occasioned by the pandemic.
With the the current efforts of governments, and the private sector as well as the understanding and the cooperation of citizens, with the mercy of God, Nigeria as a Nation will overcome the pandemic with limited casualties against the predictions of many.
God bless us all.
