By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State branch, has called on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to step-up all efforts towards COVID-19 protocols enforcement in the State.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of Association, Dr John Onyia and its Secretary, Dr Aloy Ugwoke, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Enugu.

The statement also decried the alarming rise of cases of COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 related-deaths in the state since the second wave of this dire global pandemic began.

According to the statement, NMA strongly recommends the enforcement of appropriate restrictions regarding indiscriminate social gatherings at this time in the state.

“The NMA remains ready to work with the state government towards instituting a robust COVID-19 committee and a COVID-19 response team in conjunction with other allied health professionals.

“The committee will help in formulating local policies which will combat the truly disconcerting spread of COVID-19 infection and the attendant morbidities and mortalities in our dear state,” it said.

The statement also urged the state government to step up the immediate enforcement of strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in the Valentine’s Day Celebration, which is already revving up in the state.

It noted that the move was to guard against the inevitable explosion of cases of COVID-19 infections and COVID-19 related deaths in the state in the aftermath of this Valentine’s Day celebration.

It said: “Enugu State will most likely experience a massive influx of Valentine celebrants this weekend from other states, with a consequential projected massive spread of COVID-19, if the Presidential orders and NCDC guidelines are not observed.

“Many hotels will be fully booked by weekend, and most entertainment spots and other places of outing like shopping malls, night clubs, etc should be expecting large crowds that will no doubt breach the COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.

“We are constrained to make this clarion call which is borne out of our acute awareness that the health facilities and personnel in Enugu State are nearly overwhelmed by the increased incidence in symptomatic COVID-19 related cases and deaths.

“With a significant number of the health workers and their relatives in Enugu State now down with COVID-19 infection contracted inadvertently while attending to the COVID-19 cases that abound now in the state.

“As a state, we cannot afford to encourage circumstances and events geared towards circumventing COVID-19 protocols as approved by the Federal Government, especially in the face of the fast spreading community acquired COVID-19 infections caused by the emergent, more virulent strain of COVID-19 virus.”

The statement advised the state government to immediately cancel all carnivals and mass gatherings during the Valentine celebration and other festivities in order to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 infections.