THE Nigeria Medical Association has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for coming up with measures that would help mitigate the effect of the coronavirus epidemic on the nation’s economy and the health system.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last week directed a review of the coronavirus response on the economy and healthcare, and the report of the committee headed by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been submitted to the president.
NMA president, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said the policy was in line with what the association had been clamouring for.
He disclosed that NMA, during a visit to the apex bank governor few days ago, had requested a five-year moratorium for purchase of medical equipment and upgrade of health facilities as well as a single digit interest loan for the health sector.
Faduyile said that the association could only make further comments after it had seen the detail of the policy.
The CBN yesterday announced six initial policy measures to combat COVID-19, which includes extension of moratorium on loans, interest rate reduction, N50bn fund, credit support for the health sector, regulatory forbearance and strengthening of Loan to Deposit Rate policy.
