Covid19
Minister’s Ignorance Of Chinese Medics’ Whereabouts Stirs Rumpus
By Ayodele Oluwafemi
The claim by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire suggesting his ignorance about the whereabouts of the Chinese medics who he welcomed to the country at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport more than a month ago has sent tongues wagging.
Even more in an act of desperation over the issue, the minister at the daily COVID-19 press conference in Abuja on Thursday asked that he should not be asked further questions about the Chinese.
Recall that the arrival of the Chinese Medical team, on 8th April, 2020, said to have been sponsored by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), was a subject of controversy, as many groups kicked against the decision.
The Federal Government announced that they would be subjected to 14-day compulsory quarantine and COVID-19 tests before allowing them to engage in medical treatmen.
Reacting to questions on the whereabouts of the Chinese Medics, after more than five weeks of arriving the country, the Health Minister said:
“I think not all of them were doctors and I heard that some of them are technicians, but they are staff of CCECC. The Ministry of Health is not their host, so we can’t always explain what happened to them or where they are. There seems to be a lot of interest in these doctors. But they are the staff of the company and I think that they are on a company Visa.
“I will be very happy if you don’t ask me about where they are because they are not really our guests. But we have been able to learn some things from them by interacting with them from their experience in their country and they did tell us and we shared ideas on what they did in their country in managing COVID-19.”
Ehanire’s ignorance of the whereabouts of the Chinese Medical team affirmed the suspicion and doubt of many Nigerians on the mission of the Chinese doctors.
The statements of the health minister has further deteriorated the perception of many Nigerians towards the activities of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Some section of Twitter users opined that the FG is not transparent with the public with dealings with the Chinese doctors.
Another section of Twitter users lambasted the health Minister for what they perceived as lack of knowledge of his ministerial works.
GreenwhiteGreen gathered the following tweets:
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