Ebola: Senate President asks striking Doctors to rise up to national emergency

………….directs Health Committee to collaborate with agencies to combat the disease .

 President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has asked striking Medical Doctors to see the outbreak of the Ebola virus  disease in the country as a national emergency that necessitate the immediate suspension of their strike and return to duty.

 Senator Mark told the Doctors to be patriotic enough to put aside whatever grievances or misgivings with government and return to their duty posts to save the situation.

Failing to hearken to this national call, he opined is akin to sentencing the citizens of Nigeria to untimely deaths. 
 
 Besides, Senator Mark pointed out that  it will be a disservice to humanity and a total betrayal of their noble and revered profession .

 The Senate President reminded the Doctors of the Hippocratic oath  sworn to  on graduation that the primary duty of the Doctor is to save life far above other considerations.
 
 Part of the modern  Hippocratic oath  written in 1964 by Academic Dean of the school of medicine at the Tufts University, Louis Lasagna according to the Library guilds at the Johns Hopkins University states ” I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
 
 ” I will remember that I remain a member of society with special obligation to all my fellow Human  beings those sound of mind and body as well as infirm.”

 For the avoidance of doubts, Senator Mark stressed ” No body is opposed to the Doctors’ demands. They are genuine and I think they are reasonable.  But What is paramount now is that there is an emergency that demands extra-ordinary measures to tackle.”

He expressed optimism that the federal government would do the needful and address their grievances, but “we need to be alive to be able to sort out the complaints.”

 Senator Mark appreciated the huge challenges faced by the Doctors and other Heath care providers in this trying times and urged them to rigidly apply  universal precautions while attending to their patients.
He also enjoined all citizens to constantly practice good personal  hygiene in the homes, offices, shops, schools and other work places to halt the possible spread of the disease .

 Senator Mark has therefore directed the Senate Committee on Health to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and other health institutions in the fight against Ebola virus disease.
 
 He said that the National Assembly is taking the Ebola virus disease case as a national emergency and has in the mean time embarked on sensitization programme on the matter.
 
 Signed :
 Paul Mumeh, Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate.