The President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives [NANNM], AbdulRauf Adeniji, says the saving grace Nigeria has as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic is the commitment of its health workers.

He noted that COVID-19 had brought to the fore problems in the country’s health sector.

According to him, the country is playing with “the tail of a rattlesnake” as the number of COVID-19 cases recorded by the federal government is lower than the actual cases out there.

WuzupNigeria reports that Nigeria, which is the most populous black nation with almost 200 million people – about 100 million less than the United States of America, has tested just 5,000 for the COVID-19 pandemic while Ghana and South Africa test 37,954 and 80,085 respectively.

And the nurses boss says this portends grave repercussions for the country.

He said,

“The truth is that we are not well-equipped for the virus. Before COVID-19 came to Nigeria, the minister (of health) said we were equipped, but it is clear that our infrastructure cannot handle the testing capacity.

“People can have the virus and will not know it and still mingle with health officials and even their families thereby spreading it. We are playing with the tail of a rattle snake in this country.

“What I am saying is that the number of people, who have coronavirus in Nigeria, is more than the number recorded by government.

“The PTF (the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19) should be able to advise government properly on what should be done. The case definition is a problem. People may have it without all the conditions (high temperature, coughing and sneezing) stated. Despite lockdown, we still see people walking around.

“All federal teaching institutions must be able to, by now, test people for it. At least, in each senatorial district, there should be a testing centre.

“People may have it and seek herbal treatment while disobeying social distancing order. The commitment of our health workers is still the grace we have in Nigeria.”