Akwa Ibom commends NCDC for admitting error in COVID-19 results

Medical practitioners in Akwa Ibom state have commended Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), for his display of professionalism and sincerity in handling COVID-19 pandemic in the country, describing him as an upright man.

Speaking with reporters in Uyo, Joseph Ekarika, while reacting to the recent miscalculation of confirmed cases in Akwa Ibom state by NCDC that the commission’s director-general later admitted as an error, presents Ihekweazu as an exceptional Nigerian leader with integrity.

NCDC had erroneously repeated a sample test, which resulted in erroneously, adding one case to Akwa Ibom, when it actually recorded 16 confirmed cases.

The commission in admitting its error, said Akwa Ibom state government was right in insisting that only 16 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the state and apologised for the error.

Also speaking on the issue, Daniel Etokeyen, said very few public officials would accept their mistakes publicly, apologise and effect correction when their attention is drawn to such mistakes.

“It heart warming to hear that our colleague, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has demonstrated a rare character among Nigerian leaders,” he said.

“I must say that Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu is a man of integrity and sincerity. For him to accept the mistake of his commission and apologized immediately, demonstrates professionalism.

“It is commendable that the state government quickly set the record straight when the error was announced. Governor Udom Emmanuel has been very proactive and determined in the fight against this dreaded invisible disease called coronavirus, the results we are getting are evidence of his commitment.”

Ekarika and Etokeyen used the opportunity to call on other Nigerian leaders to learn from the NCDC director-general in order to move the country forward.

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom state government, few days ago, discharged five more recovered COVID-19 patients.