The Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU and the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Jos have donated hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Federal Government to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The leadership of JOHESU donated over one hundred cartons of hand sanitisers and PPE items to assist government fight the spread of Covid-19.
The government also received 50 cartons of hand sanitisers from the FSMLT to support the fight against coronavirus.
President of JOHESU, Comrade Bio-Joy Josiah, presented the gifts to Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire at the headquarters of the ministry while the Provost of the FSMLT, Dr. Sunny Etukudoh, made the donation on behalf of officials of the school.
Josiah told reporters that the union took the decision to make the donations as part of efforts to help in protecting thousands of their members who are on the frontline of duties, posted to various isolation centres in the country, containing the virus from spreading beyond control.
He noted that contrary to divergent opinions on the outbreak of Covid-19, the Nigerian government should acknowledge the Ills it has exposed in the health sector and take steps to address them appropriately.
He said: “JOHESU just presented hand sanitizers to the Federal Ministry of Health, 100 cartons of 500ml hand sanitizers, summing to about 1200 pieces, we also presented 100ml hand sanitizers, which we feel is for individual protection, so that when sent to the isolation centres, health workers they will have at least one in its kitty, so as to regularly sanitise and protect themselves.
“Statements are being made and ideas are being muted on insurance package for health workers, we are hoping and praying that these ideas will become truthful because everybody has known the importance of health care providers.
“There are two kinds of armies, one is the army with the legal weapon and the other is the unarmed army, the second which is the unarmed force that defends the nation in times like this is the healthcare workers or providers,if you cast your mind back, for many years we have been canvassing on the need for improvement and motivation in the health sector, we hope that Covid-19 would make all that we have been clamoring for become clearer and the government respond appropriately.”
The Provost of the FSMLT, Etukudoh, said the school have the equipment and technical know-how to test patients for Covid- 19.
On his part, Ehanire noted that all contributions towards curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the country was valuable, especially now that the virus remains a mystery and has almost crippled the big nations of the world.
He said the donations by JOHESU and FSMLT would go a long way in helping to contain the spread of the virus, especially for the health workers who are currently on the frontline of duty across the country.
The minister said: “We thank JOHESU and FSMLT for these presentations to us for use in the battle against Coronavirus.
“You all know that this is an illness that has taken the whole world in its grip and it is affecting even the most powerful countries of the world, prompting us to ask ourselves how do we face this thing that has almost brought these powerful countries to their kneels. One way is that we all bound ourselves together.”