Jide Orintunsin, Tony Akowe, Abuja and Chris Njoku, Owerri
THE House of Representatives Minority Caucus on Tuesday rejected the invitation of a Chinese medical team to help contain the spread of coronavirus.
Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu said in a statement in Abuja that bringing the medical experts from the epicentre of the dreaded disease could expose Nigerians to further danger.
But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s decision to welcome the experts.
Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire said an 18-man team was being expected on the invitation of a Chinese firm, a position backed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Criticisms trailed the announcement, with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) faulting the move.
The House Minority Caucus asked the Federal Government to rescind the decision and jettison all plans to bring in almost two dozen doctors from the hotbed of the plague into the country at this critical time.
The House opposition members believe that Nigerian doctors and nurses were doing well in managing the scourge.
“Bringing in Chinese medical personnel, whose status, intentions and scope cannot be easily ascertained and controlled is totally against our national interest,” the caucus said.
Elumelu said the Federal Government should take note of the apprehensions of Nigerians and professional bodies, such as the NMA.
Also on Tuesday, the Coalition of South East Youth Leasers (COSEYL) faulted the move.
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Its President General, Goodluck Ibem, said it would amount to a suicide mission to invite those “who introduced the coronavirus to the world”.
The group said: “These so-called Chinese doctors are not coming to help anyone in Nigeria but to infect and kill Nigerians with the coronavirus.
“It is on record that Chinese doctors visited Italy claiming to assist Italians to cure the dreaded coronavirus but instead of curing them, the Italians became more infected with the coronavirus that has left over 20,000 Italians dead so far.
“The Lagos State government has discharged so many patients who tested positive and are now negative of the coronavirus.
“Why then should the Federal government bring in foreigners who are the real cause of the pandemic that is killing the people?”
But, APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu told our reporter that Nigeria can do with the expert support at a time like this.
“In a situation like this, the idea of shared experience is nothing we can undermine.
“Some people have gone through the same experience and have gone through certain processes that we can learn from, so we should not shy away from shared experience.
“We need to share ideas. We need to combine forces because this is a global enemy that is not limited to Nigeria.
“The medical experts are coming for us to benefit from them and they, in return will benefit from our experts. We will combine strength and we will be stronger than our common invisible enemy,” he said.
According to Issa-Onilu, the Chinese experts’ support would not undermine the competence of the country’s medical personnel.
“The government’s action is not in any way suggestive of the fact that our doctors and medical professionals are not up to date.
“Actually some are the best you can find anywhere in the world. They have proven this both within Nigeria and outside.
“They have held their own everywhere they have gone, but the situation now requires all hands on deck,” he added.
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