TheCable

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) says the federal government should have consulted the Nigeria Medical Association before accepting China’s offer for assistance in fighting COVID-19.

The NMA had rejected the idea of Chinese doctors coming to Nigeria but the federal government had said it could not reject China’s offer to assist Nigeria in such a trying period.

The medical team arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday.

In a statement by Mukhtar Sirajo, president of NIPR governing council, the association commended the efforts of government agencies, including the presidential task force, state governments, health workers, and other stakeholders in combating the coronavirus.

The association, however, said it observed that the successes recorded so far would have been greater if “certain strategic moves” had been made to engage other critical stakeholders in constituting the task force so that they can avail the nation of their professional expertise.

“The NIPR noted that taking a strategic stakeholder like the NMA into confidence through regular consultations would have enriched the initiative and provided professional expertise to accommodate the peculiarities of our reality.

“Strategic crisis communication is therefore also important as handling the situation requires not only public enlightenment but also the crafting of appropriate messages for it, networking with other stakeholders as well as analysis of pros and cons of measures to be taken as they affect segments of the society.

“This brings us to the issue of the deep concerns being expressed by Nigerians, including, crucially, the NMA, on the involvement of Chinese citizens, albeit their medical professionals, in handling the pandemic situation in Nigeria.

“Apart from causing possible professional friction in managing the situation, which the nation can ill afford at this time, information already being circulated, be it fake or real, points to a perceived doubt of the altruism of Chinese involvement in the fight against the pandemic.

“We hasten to add that, had strategic communication being deployed, before accepting the Chinese offer, the country might not have been in this somewhat embarrassing situation.

“With the WHO commendation of Nigeria’s effective efforts at curbing the pandemic, what our doctors need among others, is some encouragement and a boost at this crucial time and not a move that would seem to demoralise them.”

The NIPR, therefore, advised the federal government to review its position and “carefully handle the matter in a way that reassures the citizens of its full understanding of the situation, while at the same time upholding the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and China”.