Photo Credit: Anambra State Govt
The two-day Train the Trainers workshop organized for members of the Nigeria Medical Association, Anambra State branch has ended. The training was geared towards tackling the novel Corona Virus disease as well as other lethal diseases in the state.
The workshop which held at Golden Tulip Agulu Lake Hotel, Agulu, became necessary in view of the disturbing statistics of high infectious rates among frontline health workers in the state.
Notable personalities who attended the training include the Director-General of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Anti-Microbial Resistance, AMR/Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Programme Coordinator, NCDC, Dr Tochi Okwor and the Anambra NMA Taskforce on Covid-19 led by Dr Jane Ezeonu.
According to, Dr. Vincent Okpala, the state Commissioner for Health who flagged off the workshop, he said “the pandemic is still with us fully, as at today five key local Government Areas with high degree of the transmission include, Awka South, Nnewi North, Idemili North, Onitsha North and South and with this it has spread all over the state”
“You should do the needful, follow the Covid-19 protocols. This is not the time to be attending weddings and funerals in large number. A team was created in each of the political wards in the state and we call them Covid-19 Ward Action team”
Furthermore, he stated that, 25 health workers have been affected by the pandemic, two doctors, one pharmacist, two laboratory personnel, eight nurses and some others that work in hospitals. However, Dr. Okpala commended the NCDC training of the trainers.
The Director General who was ably represented by the Programme Coordinator, Anti-Microbial Resistance/Infection, Prevention and Control, Dr. Tochi Okwor at the Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) Project which was sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressed optimism that after the workshop, those trained would impact positively on the society what they learnt.
The NCDC boss who wasn’t pleased with the looming number of casualties recorded among doctors and health workers in the state stressed that the commitment of the entire citizenry in tackling the pandemic was of great importance in the fight.
In his words, “It’s unfortunate and heart breaking the infections that occurred among health workers and the number of doctors who have died”.
“The question is, are we going to live with the pandemic as weak people who don’t have what it takes to deal with it or live with it in a way that keeps the virus very uncomfortable and force it away from us? I do believe we have what it takes to deal with it”.” More importantly, as trainers, we’ll begin to galvanize other health workers to do more to ensure we work safer and come out less damaged as well as ensure that the lessons we learnt from the pandemic will strengthen our health system.”
Doctor Jide Onyekwelu, the state NMA chairman, had in his opening address, commended the State commissioner, Dr Okpala, for his assistance towards the welfare of doctors in the state and the health sector including the NCDC DG, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who was represented by Dr Tochi Okwor, for training the trainers and his vice, Dr Jane Ezeonu.
InlandTown! 2020
