IgbereTV reports that the 12-man Ad hoc Expert Medical Advisory Committee (EMAC) constituted by the Enugu State Government has stated that stigmatization of patients and low compliance with stipulated safety measures are the impediments to the fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the State.
According to IgbereTV reports, the committee made this observation during the June 29, 2020 meeting with allied health workers and the management of the Neuropsychatric Hospital in Enugu.
IgbereTV recalls that the State Government had set up the committee to recommend the appropriate ways to de-escalate the transmission of the deadly virus.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Enugu state chapter, Pharm. Festus Ejiekpe stressed the need for the government to impose stiffer measures towards ensuring stricter compliance with the protocols enunciated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state government.
Ejiekpe also said that stigmatization of COVID-19 patients is another obstacle to the fight against the spread of the disease. He called on the relevant authorities to strive to check such unhelpful practices.
The PSN chairman said that such stigmatization has made some people with COVID-19 symptoms to resort to self medication or buying off-the-counter drugs from urban and rural pharmacies than seek proper diagnosis in the hospitals.
The PSN members believes that mass enlightenment of the populace will go a long way in curbing the spread of COVID-19. The team equally emphasized the need for the use of face masks, regular hand washing and the maintenance of other personal hygiene practices.
Prof. Ejim and other members of EMAC solicited the help members of various health professionals in attendance to join hands with the state government towards halting the spike in the transmission of COVID-19 infection in Enugu State.
The committee met with the Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Monday Igwe, the Head, Clinical Services (HCS), Dr. Vincent Ubochi alongside other high-ranking officers during which they discussed and agreed on the need to enforce strict compliance in public places such as markets, churches, etc.
