By CHARLES IWUOHA

Consequent upon the recent spike in the spread of Coronavirus disease in Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has approved the immediate constitution of an Ad Hoc Expert Medical Advisory Committee on urgent and effective measures for de-escalation of the pandemic in the state, as recommended by Enugu State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the committee will “engage with leaders of various religious groups, market associations, professional associations, labour unions, National Union of Road Transport Workers Enugu State Chapter, Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union, Civil Society Groups, Organized Private Sector and all other relevant stakeholders and recommend urgent and effective measures for de-escalation of transmission of Coronavirus infection in Enugu State, with due regard to all extant Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols for containment of the spread of the Coronavirus infection (COVID-19).”

The ad-hoc committee, which has a Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Emmanuel Ejim, as Chairman, will also “take any other reasonable steps that may be incidental to the attainment of the objective above.”

Members of the committee that has two weeks to submit its report include Rev. Can. Dr. Ifeanyi Onah (Chief Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Head, Infectious Disease Unit, National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu); Dr. Nneka Unaogu (Consultant Psychiatrist/Head, Research and Training Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu); Dr. Nnamdi Nwosu (Consultant Respiratory Physician, UNTH, Enugu); Dr. Joseph Enebe (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu); Dr. Obinna Anikwe (Consultant Urologist, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Secretary, Enugu State GuildofMedical Directors).

They also include Dr. Obinna Nduagubam (Consultant Pediatrician, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu); Dr. Onyinye Chime (Consultant Public Health Physician, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu); Dr. Aneke Emmanuel (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNTH and State Secretary, NMA); and Dr. Chinemerem Dan Onwuliri (Public Health Physician, Department of Community Medicine, UNTH, Enugu).

The rest are Dr. Okafor Sunday (Registrar, Public Health Physician Department of Community Medicine, UNTH, Enugu/Ass. State Secretary, NMA, Enugu State Chapter) and Dr. Emeka Onoh (Public Health Physician, Department of Community Medicine, UNTH, Enugu).