DG NOA
By Salisu Sani Idris
April 04, 2020
COVID-19: Nigerian government not importing Chinese medical experts, says DG NOA
Dr Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) says that the Federal Government is not importing Chinese medical experts to assist the country in the ongoing fight against covid-19 pandemic.
Abari made the statement when he featured at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), live flagship programme, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Abuja.
He explained that the 18 Man Chinese medical team are only coming to share experience with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on how they were able to handled their own case of covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that whatever information the Chinese medical team made available to NCDC, such information would be filtered and apply to address the peculiar challenge of the country on covid-19.
” Because this is a global pandemic and from wherever assistance come you cannot reject it.
” For instance, the United States is opening its doors to all volunteers that will come and assist them because they are also getting overwhelmed.
” Despite its finest medical facilities and expertise yet US are now saying any form of assistance coming from anywhere that will add value to the fight against covid-19 is welcome,
” It is not as if the government of Nigeria is not appreciating the efforts of its own medical experts.
” This is the time when Nigeria is proud and appreciating its own medical experts and showcasing it best.
” This is the time that Nigeria is moping all its competence hands both active and in active and bring them together with a view to ensure that we beef up competent human capacity required to address the issue at hand,”Abari said.
The DG, who said that the common humanity was put under challenge by covid-19, stressed the need for everybody to contribute immensely to the war against the virus.
He said that the Federal Government was responding favourable in the provision of palliatives to the vulnerable groups, including person living with disabilities through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Investment.
Abari appealed to citizens who had shown symptoms of the virus to quickly present themselves to NCDC for testing and proper medical attention to avoid endangering the lives of people.
He also admonished citizens to maintained high standard of personal hygiene by washing their hands constantly or apply alcoholic bases sanitiser.
The DG also enjoined citizens to be law abiding by obeying the stay-at-home directives of the government, saying ” together we shall defeat covid-19.” (NAN)