By Uche Mbah
There is still no clarity on the issue of the present whereabouts of the Chinese experts that came with Air peace that brought COVID 19 equipment from China since many of those who should know are singing discordant tunes.
Recall that the Minister of health, Osagie Ehinare, was at the Airport to receive the Chinese at the Airport on arrival, saying that they are here to help health workers in the war against COVId 19. The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, had vehemently objected to the coming of the Chinese doctors. There is no evidence they were certified to be doctors by Nigerian Health authorities as demanded by International Best Practices. On arrival they were said to have been quarantined under controversial circumstances.
Suddenly they disappeared from the radar.
But Nigerians agitations lead to the question of their whereabouts being popped at the Health Minister, who said he does not like to be asked the question since some of them are not Medical Personnel.
(the medical Personel) are not guests of the federal government but that of the company”, he said.
But the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, claimed they are working at Isolation centers, though investigations show that they are not at any isolation center. According to him, they are helping the country to build capacity.
“The Chinese are doing well, they all teated negative to Coronavirus. As to what they are doing now, they are busy working at Isolation centers putting together and setting up the equipment they brought. They are helping our Doctors in capacity building in the centers. Like we said at the beginning, none of the Doctors will be treating any patient in Nigeria”.
But Michael Vigao, Managing Director, china Civil Engineering construction corporation, CCECC, says that the experts in question are in the care of the Company. “They are here with us and continue to teach our staff how to protect themselves because protection and prevention are more important than the treatment”, he said, adding that they have not gone back because there is as yet no flight out of Nigeria to China. The Airpeace flight is by special arrangement.
