COVID-19 IN AKWA IBOM STATE : IS THE STATE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PEOPLE?

The recent cataclysms between the Akwa Ibom State ministry of Health and the National Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter is a show of sheer impudence and utter disregard for human health and life in extension. Since the outbreak of the novel corona virus in late 2019 and its rapid increase since January 2020, countries all over the world (both developed and underdeveloped) have been placed on a state of consciousness with each instituting means and measures for containment, prevention and spread of the breathe-squeezing virus.
Specifically, while other states in Nigeria contend onerously in curbing the spread of the virus and its subsequent effects, the Akwa Ibom State government, specifically her health sector is seen to make a joking sham of the entire scenario. First, it was the case of ascertaining the number of identifiable cases in the state which witnessed a rather embarrassing overturn of numbers and rejection of confirmed cases by the State ministry of Health as against the figures announced by the NCDC. This left citizens and residents of the State in awesome bewilderment as to where to lay hope.

Recently, the commissioner of Health in the State, Dr Dominic Ukpong, confirmed the sack of the State epidemiologist and practically the frontliner in the fight against the virus, Dr Aniekeme Uwah, because of multiple claims which above all included the non-adherence of the latter to conduct tests on 10 suspected Covid 19 cases as against 31cases identified in the state. This was followed by a fragile excuse by the former that Akwa Ibom State ranked the highest in HIV/AIDS charts because the state adhered to complete testing, hence such should be avoided in the case of the "fast killing" Covid 19. The commissioner also allegedly supported his claims by stating that Cross River State have no case on recorded because the state is not testing.

With the aforestated excuse which sounds deadlier than the virus itself, the selfish, inhumane, cruel, nasty and brutish state of some government personalities in the state have been made obvious. In a time like this where compassion on human health and life should be paramount, it is rather abominable that some personalities in the echelon of power are still deceitfully politicizing and petting serious health issues in order to put the State in bright light. This leaves one to question who constitutes the State. Is the State no more a constituent of human beings (population)? If the humans constituting the state are left to utter exposure to health hazards like this, would it boast of her strength and power? Is a percentage of the monies used in management and administration of the state not from the taxpayers (people) in the state? Why then should a single authority delegate her citizens to this level of hazard. "We are not safe". These humans (in respect the the ministry of health) are deadlier than the virus.
However, a facebook user (name withheld) recommended that health workers cease duties and canvass for their own (Dr Aniekeme Uwah). Though the expulsion of the erudite medical personnel is unwarranted, it is however unintelligible for health workers to go striking at a time they are most needed in their profession. This is more like heaping hot coals of fire on an already burnt building. Instead, calls should be made on the government (specifically, the Governor) to reconstitute the administration of the ministry of health and the COVID 19 TEAM in Akwa Ibom which would be independent of unnecessary State control, make funds and medical equipments available for the fight against the virus, with bouncing rewards for all health workers at the front line.

STAY SAFE

TARILA EKEUWEI

Akwa Ibom State govt is playing politics with these. God help us we don't become an epicentre because it might be worse than other places