Lagos State COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center is endangering the lives of front line healthcare workers .
NAIJA NEWS NG has learnt that Lagos State in a time when COVID-19 is still ravaging the mega city is exposing the families of the very people who have decided to help combat the pandemic to contract the virus . Our investigation reveals that the last batch of health care workers Lagos State employed three months ago were lodged at hotels to work at Onikan, IDH , Gbagada , Agidingbi isolation centers have been asked to prepare for evacuation this month- July. The new directive says they will start coming to work from their homes.
“Please let your staff know that JULY will be the last month of hotel accommodation. “ This is the SMS sent to the team leaders on hotel evacuation.
The health workers are worried because this is not what they were told before they took the job and coming to work from their houses will expose their families to COVID-19 . Our source revealed that the healthcare workers in the last batch before this were treated this same way and most of them tested positive to COVID-19.
Another red flag is the constant slashing of allowances and welfare package of fontline workers . One wonders if the state is running out of funds or just do not care about the welfare of the workers.
You would recall that Lagos State approved N20 billion to combat the virus in the state, the state also got N10 billion from the Federal Government to tackle coronavirus .
Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Boss Mustapha disclosed that the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with other Ministries Departments Agencies and the health sector professional bodies, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for various allowances and other incentives for the welfare of frontline health workers.
“Today the welfare of our frontline heroes, the health workers, came to the front burner.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Federal Ministry of Health working in conjunction with other MDAs and the Health sector professional bodies have signed an MOU for various allowances and other incentives.
“The full details will be unveiled to you by the Hon. Minister of Health soon.
“I am, however, pleased to inform you that in addition to what the Federal Government is doing, the Insurance Industry has responded massively to the call for support.
“The PTF has received the Life Insurance cover to the frontline workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The premium in the sum of N112, 500, 000 for the cover has been fully paid by the Nigerian Insurance Industry in line with the principle of No Premium, No Cover.” Mustapha said.
The question begging for answer is why are Lagos State frontline workers being treated like slave workers ?
