The Conference of Harmonised Civil Society Organisation
in Nigeria (CHCSON) on Monday questioned the role of the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) in the fight against
COVID-19 pandemic.
The coalition in a press briefing in Makurdi, Benue
State, accused the two bodies of acting above board, and wondering if they have
achieved anything in the fight against the disease.
According to the team leader of the group, Mr.
Solomon Semeka, “The NCDC and PTF have
been misinforming the masses and the
governments at all levels.
"The immediate reaction of many Nigerians to
the NCDC's midnight nightmare of increasing cases is that the agency now has a
panic button it uses to scare the citizens and governments of Nigeria simply
for selfish gains. If not, why then is the COVID-19 pandemic and its
ancillaries the sole preoccupation of the NCDC and other public health bodies
for now?"
“Is it because it is currently the only disease
which gives access to unbelievable amount of money from the public and billions
of naira from the private sector?
"This country is plagued by many other endemic
diseases like Lassa fever, malaria, meningitis among others, which have killed
more than the COVID-19. We have had over 655 deaths from Lassa fever alone in
the last few months in Nigeria. Malaria remains the highest killer of children
in the world. Why are they ignored with mounting death tolls while COVID-19 is
given all the attention? Is death by COVID-19 now some kind of elite death and more
celebrated?"
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