ITA UDOSEN AND HIS INFANTILE OUTBURST AGAINST A’IBOM GOVT OVER COVID19: We, the Noble Youths Mass Support Association (NYMSA) Akwa Ibom State Chapter have risen to condemn a certain publication written by a certain Ita Udosen, a supposed medical practitioner, titled: Covid-19 Pandemic: Second Wave with increased Morbidity and Mortality – Public Advisory.

It is sad that at a time of intensed emotion and untold pain reaching the State in the cruelest of ways as this, a sane Medical Director of a hospitality outfit is towing political lines.

For all we know, a hospitality outfit is a place you are assured of healing, comfort and tranquility, physically, psychologically and emotionally. So, coming from one at the helm of affairs of a renowned hospitality outfit, Udosen’s so-called Public Advisory was supposed to have healed the bleeding hearts of bereaved families, friends, benefactors and well-wishers, while offering the needed precautionary advice to others.

On the contrary, the message sent was one inciting members of the public against the State which has left many thinking if the writer was paid or has a personal undisclosed issue with the State Government.

As a concerned public health commentator whose interest should hinge on canvassing for increased awareness on the dangers of the virus and the need for adherence to precautionary measures, methinks the acclaimed medical personnel should have channeled his observation of the State COVID-19 Task Force to the necessary authorities rather than calling for judgment from the public as typical hypocrites do.

Even more, he dared to mention that the State government tried to “play a cover up game in testing and not reporting certain information that would have forced the citizens to comply with all the mitigation protocols set out by the NCDC” during the first wave, when in actual fact, his medical centre and others he well knew were among the undisclosed hospitals hiding COVID-19 suspects, only to turn them in at the dying minute. He cannot deny this.

No one in Akwa Ibom State would say they have stopped hearing the STAY SAFE mantra accompanied by emphasis on the use of facemasks in public places, hand sanitization and observance of social/physical distancing protocols, from the mouths of the Taskforce/government since the global pandemic erupted.

The Governor and his cabinet members have continued to sing this anthem at every opportunity given to make a public address.

Just last week, the Information Commissioner, Comrade Ini Ememobong and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen addressed the public on this subject matter. This is not excluding the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. Even our radio and Television stations are still echoing the same thing. What more can one do to be scored high by a politically biased and already subjective public health commentator?

He should have just stayed with his advise “that Covid-19 variance in this second wave is more dangerous, deadly and more transmissible than the variance in the first wave of the Pandemic”.

We would have heard and agreed to this obvious fact. But he buffed when he ingloriously advised Akwa Ibomite not to “wait on our lack luster PDP-led administration in the State”, before heeding the precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. What an advice from a trained Medical Doctor! Is that part of medical ethics? Or is this a ploy to gain popularity and followership?

For the records, there’s no new information about staying safe than what we already know. The free COVID-19 test on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the isolation and PCR laboratory at Methodist Hospital, Ituk Mbang is courtesy of the State Government. He obviously forgot to mention this.

But this is no time for vain glories. The dead ought to be accorded some respect and their families condoled with. We must learn to select our words in times like this.

We do not pray to witness another hacking of our endeared sons and daughters hence, the continuous call for caution from members of the public.

Public spirited individuals and organizations should identify with the State Government’s efforts in realizing this rather than play the Ostrich.

Pst. Uduak Okposin
State Secretary, NYMSA, Akwa Ibom State