President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tributes to 20 Nigerian doctors who were reported to have died of COVID-19 within a week. The President was quoted by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Enema Amodu, disclosed the death of the medical practitioners.
Amodu disclosed that the deceased health workers included consultants, professors, and some resident doctors, saying that the fight keeps increasing daily.
In the statement, Buhari said that the welfare of the health workers is the priority of his administration. The statement is titled, ‘President Buhari salutes the sacrifices of 20 doctors killed by COVID-19; mourns Chief Ajakpo, Air Commodore Nkanga’.
Shehu also disclosed that the President has sent a condolence message to the NMA over the death of the doctors due to the pandemic.
In his word, Buhari admitted that the country’s health workers are operating under “severe limitations” but they are not discouraged in the discharge of their duties in saving lives.
Shehu quoted Buhari as saying, “The death of our front-line health workers in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is particularly sad because these professionals risk their own lives in order to save others.
“Our health workers are making maximum sacrifices for the country in line with their humanitarian calling, and this administration will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure their needs are met.
“Our health workers are operating under severe limitations, but they are undeterred in discharging their duties in saving lives.
“Let me say without any fear of contradiction that no reward is too much for the sacrifices of our health workers in the country, and this administration will give their welfare the priority it deserves.”
The President’s aide added the President has also expressed his sadness over the death of the Galadiman Lokoja, Chief Godwin Ajakpo; and the chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.), a former military governor, who was also report to have died of COVID-19 on Thursday.
