The Nigerian Medical Association and Joint Health Sector Union on Sunday expressed concern over the disregard for COVID-19 guidelines at the wedding of Yusuf, son of President, General Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari’s son had on Friday wedded Zahra, the daughter of Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero, in a ceremony attended by top politicians from the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, among others.
However, the guests were observed to have shunned COVID-19 social distancing rules while many other did not wear facemasks.
At the event were Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; state governors, ministers and federal lawmakers.
But the Joint Health Sector Union said the disregard for COVID-19 protocols at the wedding of the President’s son was lamentable.
JOHESU’s spokesman, Mr Olumide Akintayo, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday said it was unfortunate that Buhari, who signed the COVID-19 guidelines into law, could not enforce strict compliance to safety protocols at his son’s wedding.
He said, “Ours is a society where those who lead us never set the right examples, it is always the case of ‘do what I say and not necessarily do what I do,’ and that is why value migration has become the major fallout of years of social decadence.
“At a time health experts keep warning the people that the reality of Delta variant of COVID-19 is here with us, it is sad that it is such a time that you have major public gathering without regard for COVID-19 protocols. It was President Buhari who signed the law that made it punishable for anybody not to obey COVID-19 protocols, yet it is the cream of his officials who are not making use of facemasks and are not observing social distancing.”
NMA worries over large gatherings
Also, the Nigerian Medical Association expressed worry on Sunday over such large gatherings with participants shunning public health protocols.
The association’s General Secretary, Philips Ekpe, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said, “We are very worried; one thing we must make clear is that COVID-19 is still with us. We are also worried about the Delta variant. We have been studying to know whether it thrives in the midst of fully vaccinated people.
“We are watching as people are gathering and we are urging the people to obey the COVID-19 protocols. Our people should not let the excitement of the occasion make them to ignore public health protocols.”
Ekiti, Rivers bemoan increasing COVID-19 cases
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has said it is making concerted efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said the state had ordered strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols in mosques, churches, market places and business outfits as well adherence to proper management of cases in private hospitals.
The enforcement team of the state government on Friday closed two eateries and a new generation bank in Ado Ekiti, for allegedly violating the COVID-19 protocols.
Filani, in a letter dated August 20 addressed to the state chairman, National Association of General Medical Practice of Nigeria, titled, ‘Adherence to COVID-19 protocols and management of cases,’ sought support of doctors in private hospitals in the fight against spread of the virus.
Likewise, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, said on Sunday that the government was worry over the rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the state, urging residents to take ongoing vaccinations seriously.
“We advise that if you notice you have symptoms that look like malaria, you should be able to go to a certified health facility so that you can be tested,” the commissioner added.
Prof. Chike therefore urged people and residents of the state to take the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination seriously, saying the vaccines were available at all health institutions in the state. – Punch.
