The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has threatened to withdraw her members from every public health facility in the country, should the Federal Government go ahead with its planned move to engage the services of Chinese doctors to assist the country in combating COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

In a statement signed by NARD president, Dr. Sokomba Aliyu and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, he warned government to tread with caution as Chinese nationals could not be trusted, given the suspicious manner in which they have relied information and the trending conspiracy theories linking the virus spread to sociopolitical and economic manipulation and domination.

Condemning the move which was described as illegal and suicidal, the Association said the probable withdrawal of services would be to allow the anticipated downturn in the output of healthcare service delivery be properly situated and traceable to the Chinese as was the case in Italy presently.

According to him, the Chinese experts could not just be coming to play advisory roles as claimed, as telemedicine should have been more cost-effective, faster and easier to harness over a large number of users than to fly them into Nigeria and move them around at a huge cost to the nation’s budget.

In his words: “The Association is in indeed puzzled that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health would be contemplating such an adventure without firstly discussing it with the key and relevant stakeholders like the Nigerian Medical Association; our parent body; and all her relevant affiliates that parade some of the world’s best hands in all fields of endeavor. 

“We find it rather curious that our Government would contemplate to throw open her international borders to Chinese nationals having watched how similar action in Italy proved socio-economically suicidal. 

“The Federal Government  cannot be championing illegality. All doctors coming into Nigeria are supposed to be licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.  Am sure these ones are not.

“Nigeria is about one fifth of the population of the African continent and currently the world has watched with awe, the very slow rate of case fatality arising from COVID 19 in Africa and is yet to understand, explain, covet or undermine that possible genetic advantage.

“Nigeria is too important in the African continent to act any carelessly in the face of this emerging but portent threat to human existence.”

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has advised the Federal Government not to undertake the unnecessary task of inviting Chinese doctors into the country, as the healthcare workers in Nigeria were on top of the situation and more than capable to deliver better results.

A statement signed by the TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and its Secretary General, Comrade  Musa Lawal-Ozigi,, and made available to newsmen on Sunday, maintained that based on the COVID-19 situation reports, the country was not doing badly in its treatment and containment measures.

On the 5G network causing apprehension across the country, TUC urged government to put into consideration, the health implications and socioeconomic effects of the technology and engage a team of professionals to research on its development in order to allay the fears of the citizenry.