The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has promised to sustain its services, including critical medical emergency care, throughout the duration of the nationwide hunger protest.
Prof. Bala Audu, NMA President, stated in Lagos on Saturday that the association has given its members nationwide instructions to immediately treat injured protesters brought to medical facilities.
He said: “There have been reports of injury, violence, looting, and curfew in some states as a result of the protest.
“We also got reports of attacks on ambulances; doctors are no longer feeling safe. We have to ensure the safety of medical practitioners so that they can move freely and save lives.”
Audu urged doctors to be mindful of their surroundings and steer clear of the protest while on their way to work.
The NMA president urged the federal and state governments to restore law and order nationwide and urged the protesters to engage in dialogue with the government.
In the same vein, the Lagos State NMA Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, appealed to doctors to prioritize prompt treatment for gunshot victims, waiving the need for a police report as mandated by the Treatment and Care of Gunshot Victims Act, citing the critical need for specialized care to prevent mortality or permanent damage.
Saheed also called on the federal government to provide reimbursement to private healthcare facilities that treat gunshot victims and to reassess its economic policies and reconstitute its economic team to enhance the overall well-being of citizens.
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