COVID-19: CAN wants Chinese doctors to present medical certificate, work experience

THE Kogi Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr John Ibenu has urged the Federal Government to ensure the Chinese doctors who recently arrived Nigeria, presented their medical certificates before allowed to practice.
Ibenu told newsmen in Lokoja on Friday that the federal government should also demand for years of medical experience of the Chinese doctors before allowed to practice or attend to any patient.
Ibenu, a trained medical doctor, said no Nigerian doctor could practice in Europe, America, Russia or any country without first applying to their Medical Association and be subjected to their exams before such doctor would be allowed to practice.
He stressed that the Chinese doctors should go through examination and be certified by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council that they were truly fit to practice in Nigeria.
”The Chinese doctors and nurses should present their medical certificate from their medical school; we want to see how long ago they have been practicing.
”We did not want a situation whereby somebody who graduated three to four years ago will now come here and be given instruction to somebody who have been practicing for over 20 years.
”Then, all the equipment they have brought to Nigeria should be handed over to NCDC and our medical experts to be checked thoroughly to prove that they are fit for our use.
”Until those materials are properly checked and certified okay, they should not be given to our people or used by anybody here,” he said.
He thanked the Chinese for their support and for sending their doctors, but restated that as a medical doctor himself and by his judgment, Nigerian doctors have performed excellently well in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
”All our health workers and the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and NCDC have done excellently well. I can say that Nigeria is number one as far as the management and control of Covid-19 is concerned.
”Nigeria has only recorded seven deaths, and so people that have recorded thousands of deaths should not be coming here to help but rather to come and learn from us,” Ibenu said.
He further advised the Government to be wary of free gifts from other countries, saying necessary protocol should be followed.
He commended the FG for its decision to quarantine Chinese medical team for 14 days, saying after quarantined, they should also face medical exam for certification before they could practice in Nigeria’.
Ibenu, who is the Founder of Chapel of Freedom International Churches, admonished pastors not dabble into controversy, but urging them to study their bible very well before making comments on ecstatology so as not to expose themselves to unnecessary ridicule.