Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, says his ministry cannot always explain the whereabouts of the Chinese medical team because they are not guests of the federal government but CCECC, a construction company.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had kicked against the involvement of Chinese doctors in the fight against COVID-19.
But the federal government had said they would not be involved in treating patients in the country.
Responding to questions at the presidential task force briefing on COVID-19 on Thursday, Ehanire said he would be very happy he is not asked where the medical team is.
“I want to explain that first of all,I think not all of them are doctors and I heard that some of them are technicians but they are staff of CCECC. The ministry of health is not their host, so we can’t always explain what happened to them or where they are,” the minster said.
“There seem to be a lot of interest in these doctors but they are a staff of a company. I’d be very happy if you don’t ask me where they are.
“They are not really our guests in that sense but we have been able to learn somethings from them, we shared ideas of what they did in their country in managing COVID-19.”
Ehanire, who appealed to Nigerians to comply with guidelines of regulatory agencies, said face masks would help in protecting citizens in places where social distancing is impractical.
“The use of facial covers like masks in places where social distancing may be difficult or impractical, should be emphasized and supported through distribution of masks to the population, as an act of goodwill,” he said.
“Face masks should in fact become commonplace and I look forward to seeing that cooks, stewards and Food vendors, for example, wear masks, or lose their customers.
“I wish to enjoin workplaces to institute such requirements and ensure that all workers are masked and knowledgeable about COVID-19, and by extension, share it with their families and relations.”
- THECABLE
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