The Lagos state commissioner of health has said the impact of the COVID-19 would stay beyond the pandemic as there are fallouts in immunization, antenatal care, and other general medical care for the population.
The honourable commissioner, ably represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the government on public health – Dr. Finnih Oreoluwa made this known while delivering the opening address as the chief host of the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference 2020 of the Lagos state branch Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).
The honourable minister also highlighted the partnerships with private practices and laboratories by the government on diagnosis and management, in the bid to flatten the curve while also informing the association on that robust researches going on that has culminated in reducing the devastating effect of the virus in Nigeria as compared to other countries.
Speaking in line with the theme of the conference, “Impact of COVID-19 on private medical practice: The Nigerian perspective”, a founding father of AGPMPN and chairman of the occasion – Dr. Adebayo Aderiye admonished every Lagosian and Nigerian not to be in a rush to abandon all precautionary practices. He asserted that Lagos State is the pacesetter and was being looked up to for directions, hence, must get it right for the nation to follow in the light of the pandemic. He reveals that the mortality rate of the SARS COV infection is reported to be 3.3% globally, 1.9% in Nigeria, and 1.1% in Lagos which shows a steady reduction in the mortality curve.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Adeyemi Johnson (MD First Cardiologist Consultant) spoke on the subtheme “effect of COVID-19 on private practice in Lagos”, he affirmed that health care financing has to improve for healthcare to improve in Lagos and Nigeria generally. He further explained that what happened during the outbreak of COVID was a reflection of what was in existence, the crisis just exposed the rot in the system.
Speaking on “obstetric care in a COVID-19 era”, Professor Afolabi gave an overview of literature reviews on COVID-19 in pregnancy and pregnant women with a clear message that COVID-19 isn’t an indication for caesarian section.
