The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, has sacked the State’s epidemiologist, Aniekeme Uwah, over his alleged refusal to manipulate the cases of Coronavirus in the state.
Uwah was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch.
He was leading the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in the state as the state epidemiologist until his sudden removal on Friday.
The removal of Uwah was revealed by the spokesman of the NMA, Emmanuel John, in interview with Inspiration FM, Uyo.
John said Uwah’s removal was sequel to his failure to yield to instruction of the state Commissioner for Health in, Dominic Ukpong, who ordered him not to test more than 10 persons, whereas he had already tested 19 persons.
He said: “What Dr Uwah did by testing 31 persons who met the case definition saved this state grand embarrassment if the people waiting to be tested were turned back for no clinical reason, and also saved the society from community infection, should they turn positive.”
John said the removal of the epidemiologist was one of the most unfortunate things to have happened in Akwa Ibom State.
He said about 84 persons have been tested for the coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State so far.
He said: “When we have a medical doctor who begins to talk about the politics of testing, it’s a shame. It is not acceptable. In medicine, we call it infamous conduct.”
The NMA spokesperson was asked if there was any rationale for testing some samples and leaving out some.
“There is no explanation,” John responded.
There are 11 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State as of April 25.
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