Notice to Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons in Nigeria on the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is the agency of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which has statutory responsibility for the regulation of medical and dental professions in Nigeria including clinical laboratory practice by registered members of the professions as stipulated by the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act Cap M8 LFN 2010 and the various regulatory documents flowing therefrom.
The world is faced with the pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the SARS COV2 infection. The situation has since been declared a public health emergency by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
Council is aware of the frontline role of members of the medical profession in curbing this public health scourge. This role puts them together with other healthcare professionals at risk of contracting the disease.
Council has noted reports in the print, electronic and other media of medical practitioners abandoning patients and accident victims on the suspicion of having COVID-19. 
Council wishes to call the attention of medical practitioners in general and medical practitioners in administrative charge of healthcare institutions in particular, to the provisions of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 edition in Rule 25. 
It is hereby reproduced for ease of reference:
“Management of HIV/AIDS and other Socially Dreaded Infectious Diseases.
Practitioners should be aware of the prevalence of highly hazardous (contagious) ailments. While adopting the fully accepted measures to prevent themselves from becoming infected, they should in no way discriminate in handling and treating such patients and should maintain appropriate confidentiality and adopt a multi-disciplinary approach. Referral of such patients should be strictly based on professional needs.
Practitioners handling such conditions as HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, Ebola fever etc. should be sensitive to the psychological and social factors. 
Practitioners should ensure that they are not used as agents by employers or others to deny affected patients of their rights.”
Medical practitioners in administrative control of healthcare institutions should ensure that personal protective equipment is always available for use by the medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals who have to attend to patients with these highly contagious diseases.
Practitioners are reminded of the consequences of violation of any of the provisions of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria as provided for in section 16 of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act Cap M8 LFN 2004.
Members of the public are encouraged to report violations to the Council.
Reports should be made in the form of sworn affidavits and sent to the Registrar through the following addresses:
1.    MDCN House plot 1102 Cadastral Zone B11 behind Prince and Princess Estate off Oladipo Diya Road Kaura District, Garki Abuja.
2.    MDCN Lagos Zonal office
3.    MDCN Kaduna Zonal office
4.    MDCN Enugu Zonal office
5.    MDCN Ilorin Zonal office
Complaints can also be sent as email attachments to registrar@mdcn.gov.ng , pd@mdcn.gov.ng  and medicaldentalpip@gmail.com 
Council solicits the cooperation and support of all medical and dental practitioners, chief/medical directors, and proprietors of private medical and dental facilities in this effort to guide practitioners and protect the public.
Signed 
Management