Federal Government To Recall Retired Doctors And Nurses As Coronavirus Cases Rise In Nigeria

The Federal Government has said retired doctors and nurses could be recalled in states to help in the fight against coronaviruswhich had now infected 36 persons in the country.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made this known in Abuja while giving an update on the virus on Monday, March 23, 2020.

He said: “We have advised that some states should issue a call for retired doctors and nurses to be able to be reabsorbed and come back to service for this particular period if the need arises. They can be recalled back to active duty. They are in the reserved pool.

“As of this date, there are 36 cases of coronavirus in Nigeria. Of these cases 25 are in Lagos, six are at the Federal Capital Territory, two are in Ogun, one in Edo, one in Ekiti and one in Oyo State.

“26 have had a travel history to countries with high burden in the last two weeks, six are contacts of the confirmed cases and for four of them, we have not been able to trace recent travel history or trace known confirmed contact. Unfortunately, we recorded the first death of COVID-19 infection in the country.

“This was a Nigerian who had underline illnesses and died due to complications on March 22, 2020, in Abuja. He had just returned from treatment in the United Kingdom. After successful treatment, two persons have been discharged. 32 are clinically stable with mild symptoms. One patient is dependent on oxygen.”

This is coming just few days after Abuja doctors went on indefinite strike to protest the non-payment of their salaries amidst the coronavirus crisis in Nigeria.