The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has said its members will not relent in protecting Nigerians in spite the fact that 400 of its members on the frontline of the battle against covid-19 have tested positive to the coronavirus.
The National Chairman of JOHESU, Josiah Biobelemoye said this in Abuja on Thursday while distributing Personal Protective Equipments to state councils of the union.
He said the need to support its members who are working in the frontline to contain the spread of the virus was the reason behind the distribution of the PPEs
Among PPEs to be distributed across 38 state councils of the union includes 50,000 pieces of face masks, 15,200 pieces of sanitizers, 2,000 pieces of disinfectants and 1,200 pieces of hand wash.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Mashi, said the Federal Government was appreciative of any donations made by public spirited Nigerians towards curbing the pandemic.
Mashi, who was represented by the Director Human Resources, Aliya Mohammed, noted that for some unusual reasons, Nigeria has been able to brace up to the challenges better than other advanced countries with technological ingenuity.
He said: “The emergence of Covid-19 has changed the way we live our lives and the health system in general, such that even the developed countries have been overwhelmed, talk less of Nigeria.
“The virus has affected the economy drastically, hence government cannot meet all the challenges that has been thrown up, that is why we welcome such donations by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
“We have many frontline health workers taking up these challenges on behalf of other Nigerians and the federal government is always appreciate of these efforts, so we crave your understanding and more support to improve on our health care delivery in the country.”
Earlier, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja said health workers deserved commendation for being the first set of people to raise awareness on Covid-19 and its preventive measures.
He said when many Nigerians saw health workers putting on face mask, they became aware of the seriousness of the virus and the need to stay safe.
“Medical and Health Workers Union were the first set of people that produced face masks and other PPEs and started distributing to Nigerians,” he stated.
