Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 2nd April 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 2nd April 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 02/04/20

Read also

Leadership Newspapers News Today Thursday 2nd April 2020

BREAKING: Coronavirus Cases In Nigeria Hit 174

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 23 new cases of Coronavirus in the country.
This brings to 174 the total cases confirmed in the country.
The NCDC had earlier on Wednesday announced 12 cases in the country. 
In the latest cases, nine were confirmed in Lagos with seven in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Twenty-three new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; nine in Lagos, seven in the FCT, five in Akwa Ibom, one in Kaduna and one in Bauchi State.
“As at 8:00pm April 1, there are 174 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria,” the NCDC said. Twenty-three new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; 9 in Lagos, 7 in the FCT, 5 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Kaduna and 1 in Bauchi StateAs at 08:00 pm 1st April there are 174 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths pic.twitter.com/Wy9MzX1lsr— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 1, 2020

PUBLIC HEALTH

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Amidst Coronavirus, Ogun Health Workers Underpaid By Tao Bakare

Tao Bakare

Tao Bakare

As the global pandemic continue to hold the world to ransom, nations all over the world continue to search for the ‘messiah vaccine’. Despite the fact that Covid-19 has successfully exposed even the supposed perfect and big countries in terms of inadequate health facilities, Cuba have come to the rescue.
However, Nigeria remains wanted in the battle for cure as the President have never for once failed to disappoint Nigerians. 
Meanwhile, Ogun State, in the South-West region, which is one of the hotspot of the virus, has failed woefully in responding to the deadly situation.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria, Ogun State has recorded over three cases, while the state government has done almost nothing, but, mere cheap talk on radio, television and print. The governor has announced several millions of naira, while in reality, nothing is there to show for it.
Recently, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced that the state is working on an isolation centre in Ikenne Local Government. Good news, I am writing this piece from Ikenne right now, there is nothing in Ikenne. I call on Governor Dapo Abiodun to prove me wrong.
Also, with the state housing one of the major (but poorly funded) teaching hospitals in Nigeria, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, one would think that the state will be more active in response to the pandemic. But the fact is that Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital cannot even boast of a broken ventilator, let alone a functional one. Shame on the state government.
It is also sacrosanct to note that the welfare of health workers in Ogun State especially at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital is nothing to write home about. Apart from the fact that these ‘warriors’ have to work restless shifts of about 10 hours everyday, they do not even have enough items to discharge their duties properly. The sad news is, it is in OOUTH that nurses run out of face masks, gloves and sanitiders amidst a deadly virus.
Another major point of call is the remuneration of these health workers. The administration of former governor, Ibikunle Amosun, paid just four months out of the nine months arrears owed workers by the Gbenga Daniel regime still the present regime of Dapo Abiodun continue to hover around the same trend.
Of course, it is reasonable enough that amidst this pandemic, the welfare of our health workers should be held paramount by any reasonable government. But in Dapo Abiodun’s Ogun State, the shadow is the reality.
On arrival of Dapo Abiodun’s administration, thousands of promises were made to the people but a lot has remained unfulfilled. 
The situation in Ogun State is no different from scenes in horror movies as both doctors and nurses are lamenting underpayment and little or no remuneration at all. 

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Tao Bakare

Disable advertisements

JUST IN: Ondo Closes Lands Borders, Declares Three-day Fast Over Coronavirus

The Ondo State Government has announced the immediate closure of all entry points into the state as part of moves to curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country. 
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement by spokesperson for the state government, Donald Ojogo.  
The statement reads, “Having observed COVID-19 and the pos­sibility of its unde­terminable spread, the Government of Ondo State has ordered the closure of its borders with the neig­hbouring states of Ekiti, Osun, Ko­gi, Edo and Elefon, our coastal border with Ogun which in recent past has witnessed heavy human traffic from Lagos and Ogun.
“This order prohibits inter-state travels into the state and takes effect from 6pm on Thursday, 2nd April, 2020.
“Secu­rity operatives as well as monitoring te­ams have been put on the alert to enforce this order as part of measures already taken to stem COVID­-19 incursion into Ondo State.”
The government also declared a three-day prayer and fast expected to commence on Thursday.  

PUBLIC HEALTH

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

American Evacuated After Testing Positive For Coronavirus In Lagos

A United States citizen, who tested positive for Coronavirus in Lagos, has been moved back home to America.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, made the disclosure on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
He said, “The total #COVID-19 cases in Lagos is now 82. Eight patients have so far been discharged following their full recovery. 
“One of the confirmed cases, who is an American citizen, has been evacuated to the USA.”
Nigeria now has 151 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and two recorded deaths. 

PUBLIC HEALTH

United States of America

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Coronavirus: Ondo Government Shuts Down Markets, Begins Fumigation

The Ondo State Government has shut down all markets including the ones selling essential commodities in the state. 
The government said the closure was part of measures to stem the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
In a statement, the Ondo Government said, “It has been observed that residents have flagrantly disobeyed this directive which is a potent measure to avoid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. 
“Compelled by this unwholesome infraction, government hereby places a total ban on all markets across Ondo State.
“This ban is irrespective of any item. For emphasis, all markets must remain closed until further notice.”
In a related development, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has ordered the fumigation of all markets and motor parks across the state.
He said, “By the time people return to the markets after the closure, they will meet the place cleaner and already fumigated.”
 

PUBLIC HEALTH

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Windstorm Destroys Houses, Billboards In Bayelsa

Properties worth millions of naira were on Wednesday destroyed by a windstorm that accompanied a rainfall in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State.
On Tuesday, a fierce windstorm had destroyed the broadcast mast of Glory FM, a radio station owned by state government.

See Also

News

Windstorm Destroys Broadcast Mast In Bayelsa

0 Comments

1 Day Ago

Among properties affected by Wednesday’s incident were the broadcast mast of Daar Communication Plc, operator of AIT and Raypower.
The windstorm also destroyed a giant billboard at Goodluck Jonathan Bridge, roof of buildings housing civil servants at Market Estate and several other.
No casualty was recorded during the incident. 
 

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Nigerian Government Begins Distribution of N20,000 Relief Fund To Vulnerable Households

The Nigerian Government on Wednesday commenced the distribution of N20,000 relief fund to vulnerable households in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar-Farouk, said exercise would continue for the next four months.
She added that the relief fund was being distributed in line with the announcement made by President Muhammadu Buhari during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday. 

Farouq disclosed that the N20,000 would be given to each person in vulnerable households as palliative to mitigate the effect of lockdown. 
She said, “Because of this COVID-19, the vulnerable groups have to expand because we are aware that there are people who live on daily wage.
“So, we are also going to look at those groups of people to see how we can get food relief intervention to them in this period.”

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

E2%80%99-ambush Chadian Army Kills Boko Haram Terrorists In Retaliation For Soldiers’ Ambush

The Chadian Army has killed dozens of Boko Haram terrorists in retaliation for the terror group’s ambush of its soldiers.
The ambush killed at least 90 soldiers last week.
Earlier this week, Chadian President, Idriss Deby, directed commanders of a multi-national joint task force to embark on operations against the Islamic sect.
In a video showing moments after the successful operation, Chadian troops can be seen chanting victory songs while showcasing bodies of Boko Haram terrorists, according to PRNigeria. FLASH: #Chadian Troops Eliminate Dozens Of Boko Haram Fighters, Distraught Shekau Threatens President Deby pic.twitter.com/bP6UHmt4GQ— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 1, 2020

In response, Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, released a video threatening to retaliate against President Deby.
He said, “Do not think because you have fought several secular wars in several fronts you can fight those of us that chose to fight for the Jihad.”
The Nigerian Army suffered a similar ambush on its troops in Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, losing more than 70 soldiers.

Boko Haram

Chad

Military

News

AddThis

Original Author

Saharareporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Petri Dish Detention By Mohammed Ibraheem Zakzaky

The world is gripped in the Coronavirus reality and the immense panic and disruption it brings along with it. This virulent scourge has cut a path less trodden by viruses, as it infects and spreads with little regard for all the norms of red tape that has allowed the murder and official disappearance of many, including my six brothers. By the time it begins to execute those whose death sentences it has written and signed it is always 10 steps ahead on the paperwork. That is almost eight steps ahead of professionals like Buhari.
The virus is a near perfect beta of a doomsday virus. Even the most hard-line sceptics have ended up dumbfound by just how profoundly serious Covid-19 is as a survivalist organism that is here to accomplish its apocalyptic mission. Though many medical experts have since been pressured, pressed and forced to promise a vaccine and possible cure within the next few months to a year; the truth is that the threat is clearly unprecedented.
In my case I went to sleep in a world where my priority was to deliver food and medical aid to my parents in Kaduna Prison; only to wake up and realize that there was an even larger number of factors in play. I slept knowing full well that it was an uphill battle against the entire regime of Major-General-Buhari and his army of punitive henchmen; to all of a sudden be confronted by a Diablo ex-Machina; courtesy of the novel corona virus AKA Covid-19.
Now all visits to prison by anyone and everyone were effectively and strictly forbidden. I understood and reasoned that it was the proper measure to prevent contagion of this clearly deadly disease. The last thing I would want is to be a part of what makes my already sickly parents sicker; or worse.
In spite of the fact that I had completed all arrangements to have doctors visit both my parents in Kaduna Prison, in order to provide them with relief for their existing medical conditions due to age and a plethora of wounds they sustained during the attack and subsequent ransacking of our home by the Nigerian Army. All of which have all gone untreated during the past five years.
I still thought and reasoned that a quarantine of the entire area was the best measure possible in the short term, considering the existing circumstances. As a result of this I made all the necessary apologies to cancel appointments with all the doctors and hospitals, to ensure that the quarantine in Kaduna Prison will hold and be maintained. I then did all in my power to send masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, soap and vitamins. All in an effort to stay safe and keep everyone safe. 
I have now since been jolted out of the stupor of perceived safety by terrible news. There has been a violent incident inside Kaduna Prison, which has rendered my memory of the Zaria Massacre of 2015 raw. As the harrowing sounds of another rampage of gun fire was heard from Kaduna Prison, where my parents are currently being detained.
All my frantic calls to the Controller of Prisons and his deputy were not answered, as the sounds of gun fire continued to rage. All my efforts to learn what was really going on failed. I have however been able to learn a few things through the few answered calls. All of them agree on the following.
1.      There has been a surge of Covid-19 symptomatic prisoners in Kaduna Prison.
2.      Staff of the prison clinic have been avoiding three symptomatic prisoners particularly.
3.      Three of them were removed and one was returned on Tuesday.
4.      A number of Prisoners strongly objected to the re-introduction of the prisoners.
5.      The prison staff tried to calm things down by trying to reason with them.
6.      The Prison’s armed squad were then deployed, to supress an alleged prison break.
7.      After a period of automatic fire in the air and on target, calm was restored.
8.      The prisoners suspected of Covid-19 are among those reported shot and killed.
9.      Bullet canisters were still littered all over the place 3 hours later.
10.  Many of the Kaduna prison staff are visibly injured, some with serious injuries.
11.  A significant number of the injured staff were seen walking around in blood-soaked uniforms.
12.  So called normalcy has been enforced, and returned at an unknown cost.
The fact remains that the highly crowded, unsanitary conditions of Kaduna Prison remains a highly contagious environment, that is no place for my vulnerable mother and father, both of whom are above 50 years of age. Both of whom are un-healthy, both of whom are suffering from an unprecedented number of health issues that have remained untreated and unattended.
Due to a determination by the regime of Heil! Major-General Buhari and his now contagious Governor El-Rufai and their army of undertakers. It is unclear what is really going on at the site of all the intense gunfire that was heard in Kaduna Prison. Aside from the above stated facts, I can say no more.

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Mohammed Ibraheem Zakzaky

Disable advertisements

Legal Issues Arising From Management Of Covid-19 Patients By Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem

A lot of legal issues are bound to arise as an aftermath of the outbreak of Coronavirus otherwise referred to as COVID-19.  There is therefore a need to shed light on some of the issues that may arise and how to navigate them. This article will x-ray the rights of patients, the rights of health workers and the basic minimum obligations of the government.
The Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 lists acts that constitute professional negligence. Rule 29.4 of the Code outlines some of these acts as follows:-
a)      Failure to attend promptly to a patient requiring urgent attention when the practitioner was in a position to do so;
b)     Manifesting incompetence in the assessment of a patient;
c)      Making an incorrect diagnosis particularly when the clinical features were so glaring that no reasonable skillful practitioner could have failed to notice them; 
d)     Failure to advise, or proffering wrong advice to  a patient on the risk involved in a particular operation or course of treatment, especially if such an operation or course of treatment is likely to result in serious side effects like deformity or loss of organ, or function;
e)      Failure to obtain the informed consent of the patient before proceeding on any surgical procedure or course of treatment when such consent was necessary; 
f)       Making a mistake in treatment e.g. amputation of the wrong limb, carelessness that results in the termination of a pregnancy, prescribing the wrong drug, or dosage in error for a correctly diagnosed ailment, etc;
g)     Failure to refer, or transfer a patient in good time, when such a referral or transfer was necessary;
h)     Failure to do anything that ought reasonably to have been done under any circumstance for the good of the patient;
i)       Failure to see a patient as often as his medical condition warrants or to make appropriate comments in the case notes of the practitioner’s observations and prescribed treatment during such visits. It also includes failure to communicate with the patient or with his relatives as may be necessary with regards to any developments, progress or prognosis in the patient’s condition.
 
Rule 11.2 of the 2008 Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria provides that, “A physician shall preserve absolute confidentiality on all he knows about his patient even after the patient has died.”
             Rule 44 of the Code of Medical Ethics has extensive provisions on Confidentiality and when disclosure of information can be made. The Rule provides in part that:“Disclosure of information on the patient by the doctor can only be made following an informed consent of the patient in writing. It is clear that the ethic covers even such information as induced abortion, venereal disease, attempted suicide, concealed birth and drug dependence but would exclude situations in which a discretionary breach of confidentiality is necessary to protect the patient or the community from danger and this must be made clear to the patient at the time of the confidential disclosure. Where statutory notification of disease is involved, the consent of the patient is not required.”            
            Confidentiality: To Disclose Identity Of Covid-19 Patients Or Not To Disclose?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.1
The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria on the 27th of February 2020. It is the case of an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos, Nigeria on the 25th of February 2020. In reaction to the report, the social was divided between those who want the name of the Italian disclosed and those that preferred it remains confidential. The outcry was even more when the Chief of Staff to the President tested positive according to reports from various media houses2, but the Minister of Health decided to keep mute on the identity of the President’s aide who contacted the virus, citing confidentiality.
It will ordinarily be wrong to disclose the medical status of someone infected with COVID-19, for instancethe case of the Italian who was the index case. However in view of the proviso to Rule 44 of the Code of Medical Ethics 2008 which provides that a discretionary breach of confidentiality is necessary in order to protect the community from danger, I am of the view that the test results of popular figures who hold strategic offices like the Chief of Staff to the President or a Governor must be disclosed to guaranty public safety. This is necessary in view of the countless number of people from all works of life they come in contact with on a daily basis.  It will be correct to have made their status public in the overriding interest of the public, since it will enable those who have come in contact with them isolate, just like we have seen in the cases of the British Prime Minister, the Bauchi State Govenor, Prince Charles, the First Lady of Canada and many more. We must commend those who announced their status in public themselves-it is the best thing to do in the interest of humanity
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides additional guidelines for the management of coronavirus patients specifically.3
Health workers should:
•follow established occupational safety and health procedures, avoid exposing others to health and safety risks and participate in employer-provided occupational safety and health training; 
•use provided protocols to assess, triage and treat patients; 
•treat patients with respect, compassion and dignity; 
•maintain patient confidentiality; 
•swiftly follow established public health reporting procedures of suspect and confirmed cases; 
•provide or reinforce accurate infection prevention and control and public health information, including to concerned people who have neither symptoms nor risk;
•put on, use, take off and dispose of personal protective equipment properly;
•self-monitor for signs of illness and self-isolate or report illness to managers, if it occurs; 
•advise management if they are experiencing signs of undue stress or mental health challenges that require support interventions; and 
•report  to  their  immediate  supervisor  any  situation  which  they  have  reasonable  justification  to  believe presents an imminent and serious danger to life or health.
 
Doctors and health workers in Nigeria must endeavor to digest the guidelines in the Code of Medical Ethics as well as the WHO Guidelines for management of Coronavirus victims and ensure they work strictly by their provisions. A breach of these duties have dire consequences. 
Options Available To Covid-19 Patients Who Are Victims Of Medical Negligence
A Coronavirus patient who has suffered medical negligence has a number of options:1. He could file a complaint with the regulatory body (e.g. the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, in the cases involving a Doctor). The Doctor will in the first instance be investigated by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, after which he will be tried by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. If found culpable,  the Doctor may be warned, suspended from practicing for a period not exceeding 6 months or in very serious cases, have his name can be removed from the Register of Medical Practitioners. The Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal does not award monetary damages.
2. A suit can be filed against the Medical Doctor, the Hospital, Agency or Government in the High Court for Medical Negligence and monetary damages will be awarded if the Defendant(s) are found culpable.
      3.  If there is an element of Crime, a report could be made to the Police who would conduct Criminal Investigation and where the investigation reveals gross negligence, recklessness or wanton disregard for life of the victim, the police can prosecute or forward the case file to the office of the Attorney General of the State for possible prosecution in deserving cases.  
A Need To Do More For Doctors And Other Professionals In The Health Sector
Health workers are at the front line of any outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection with an outbreak pathogen (in this case COVID-19). Hazards include pathogen exposure, long working  hours,  psychological  distress,  fatigue,  occupational  burnout,  stigma,  and  physical  and  psychological violence. 
During the outbreak of Ebola more than 500 health care workers died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra-Leone alone. We also lost some of our finest doctors and health workers to the disease in Nigeria, the most prominent being Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who is credited with having curbed a wider spread of the Ebola virus in Nigeria by placing the index patient, Patrick Sawyer, in quarantine despite pressures from the Liberian  government. As we speak, The coronavirus is waging a war of attrition against health care workers throughout the world, but nowhere is it winning more battles at the moment than in Italy and in Spain, where protective equipment and tests have been in severely short supply for weeks. In Spain 13.6% (6500) of those affected with the coronavirus are health workers and in Italy 10% (7400) of those affected with the virus are health workers. 4 In New York dozens of health workers have been affected with the virus, while hundreds are in quarantine.5 According to reports filtering in as the time of concluding this article, three health workers have been infected with COVID-19 in Abuja, Nigeria.6
Human Rights Watch research into health system collapse in Hungary and Venezuela suggests the nations’ mismanaged, underfunded, and understaffed public healthcare system is poorly equipped to handle a COVID-19 outbreak. Patients and medical experts described a lack of basic hygiene protocol, lack of isolation rooms, and a shortage of health professionals, doctors and nurses, and medical supplies in general.
The situation is not too different in Nigeria at the moment and except something drastic is done we might be witnessing a devastating effect of the pandemic. Nigeria’s, public health capacity has been diminished by large scale public sector corruption. Medical personnel lack surgical masks and local supplies have been diverted and shipped to other markets partly due to corruption. Many states are ill-prepared to combat the impeding surge in patients. A senior health worker with a government hospital in Abuja, in an interview with Sahara Reporters, lamented the lack of quality Personal Protective Equipment for them, adding that government must invest in the protection of health workers at the frontline of the battle against the virus. He said, “The unfortunate thing is that the government is not providing us with what to work with. It is sad that our PPE are not up to the world standard and can be penetrated by viruses. Some of us (health workers) have to use our personal funds to purchase gloves as we do not trust the ones government supplied. Nigerians should please remember us in their prayers and government should provide us with what we really need to work.” 7
There was report that in Bauchi State a Coronavirus patient rejected the isolation centre at the Bauchi Specialist Hospital and went back home while describing it as “too dirty”.8  
It is disappointing to hear that the hazard allowance for doctors and health workers is N5,000 per month in Nigeria. The amount is very paltry compared to the risks and the attendant emotional and psychological stress suffered by the health-care workers (HWCs) particularly during monumental outbreaks like this. Unfortunately, when a patient is mismanaged, these doctors and health workers bear the burden of paying huge compensation and sometimes losing their jobs. More importantly, the brain-drain in the health sector is monumental, almost all my friends who are doctors, work abroad. Unfortunately, there are concerted efforts by the US Government to engage foreign Doctors to further fortify its health work force as COVID-19 ravages. Many young Nigerian doctors are already considering the offers because the Nigerian government has paid little attention to their welfare and the welfare of the general health workforce. To stop the exodus of our doctors, who are already in short supply, the government must act fast by improving their welfare packages in line with acceptable international standards.
The psychological needs of doctors and health workers are also often ignored. Unsafe working conditions contribute to health worker attrition in many countries due to work-related illness and injury and the resulting fear of health workers of occupational infection, including from HIV and Tuberculosis. The 2006 World Health Report – Working Together for Health reported on a severe health workforce crisis in fifty-seven countries, most of them in Africa and Asia. 9
Protecting the occupational health of health workers is critical to having an adequate workforce of trained and healthy health personnel. Governments at the Federal and State levels are urged to do more by complying fully with the World Health Organization’s guidelines regarding the Rights of Health Workers while combating COVID-19. Some of the rights are:
·         assume overall responsibility to ensure that all necessary preventive and protective measures are taken to minimize occupational safety and health risks;
·         provide information, instruction and training on occupational safety and health, including; Refresher training on infection prevention and control(IPC); and Use, putting on, taking off and disposal of personal protective equipment(PPE);
·         provide adequate IPC and PPE supplies (masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, hand sanitizer, soap and water, cleaning supplies) in sufficient quantity to healthcare or other staff caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, such that workers do not incur expenses for occupational safety and health requirements;
·         not be required to return to a work situation where there is continuing orserious danger to life or health, until the employer has taken any necessary remedial action;
·         allow workers to exercise the right to remove themselves from a work situation that they have reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health. When a health worker exercises this right, they shall be protected from any undue consequences; 
·         honour the right to compensation, rehabilitation and curative services if infected with COVID-19 following exposure in the workplace. This would be considered occupational exposure and resulting illness would be considered an occupational disease,
·         provide access to mental health and counselling resources; and 
·         enable co-operation between management and workers and/or their representatives. Etc.
In conclusion, professional care givers for COVID-19 patients should uphold four basic principles formulated by Beauchamp and Childress in their book ‘Principles of Biomedical Ethics’ in order to protect themselves from liability for negligence. The four basic principles are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.Autonomy: People have the right to control what happens to their bodies. This principle simply means that an informed, competent adult patient can refuse or accept treatments, drugs, and surgeries according to their wishes. People have the right to control what happens to their bodies because they are free and rational. And these decisions must be respected by everyone, even if those decisions aren’t in the best interest of the patient.
Beneficence: All healthcare providers must strive to improve their patient’s health, to do the most good for the patient in every situation. But what is good for one patient may not be good for another, so each situation should be considered individually. And other values that might conflict with beneficence may need to be considered.
Non-maleficence: “First, do no harm” is the bedrock of medical ethics. In every situation, healthcare providers should avoid causing harm to their patients. You should also be aware of the doctrine of double effect, where a treatment intended for good unintentionally causes harm. This doctrine helps you make difficult decisions about whether actions with double effects can be undertaken.
Justice: The fourth principle demands that you should try to be as fair as possible when offering treatments to patients and allocating scarce medical resources. You should be able to justify your actions in every situation. For instance, it will amount to a professional misconduct for a Health-care Worker to remove a poor man from the ventilator because a Senator was rushed in. 
Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem is a partner in Adetola-Kazeem Legal Practice and specializes in Medical and Health Law
Email: aadetolakazeem@gmail.com;aadetolakazeem@gaklp.com
1  tab_1(Accessed on the 28th of March 2020)
2  br /> (Accessed on the 28th of March 2020)
3 Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Outbreak: Rights, Roles and Responsibilities Of Health workers, Including Key Considerations For Occupational Safety And Health”.  on the 26th of March 2020)
4  (Accessed on 26th March 2020)
5  (Accessed on 28th of March 2020)
6  br /> 7 Supra
8  (Accessed on 28th March 2020)
9  Accessed on 26th March 2020)
 

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem

Disable advertisements

Read also

Nigerian Newspapers Today and
Nigeria News Today

Sahara Reporters Latest News today

You can also check

Sahara Reporters Newspaper Headlines Today