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Health Workers Strike by gr8tstar: 7:34am On Aug 27, 2013 |
Medical Practitioners Strike: Johesu On The Way To Calvary, But Who Wants Fejiro Oliver Dead? … My Interview With Dr Felix Faniran (Nuptam National Chairman) Because we have suffered, and we are not afraid to suffer in order to survive, we are ready to give up everything; even our lives in our struggle for justice Cesar Chavez FEJIRO OLIVER I owe no one apology for being a journalist/ activist and like the young doctors of medicine who have responded that anyone who wants to read medicine should go and buy JAMB form; today I say to them also to go and buy JAMB form and apply for journalism. Tell me that anyone can be a journalist and we in the profession will tell you that is a fat lie. We were not influenced as kids just the way the stethoscope attracted you, rather we chose this reporting life; hence we remain simple and modest. Yes, to these untrained physicians (with exception to the older and sincere ones) who say that the Nurses, Medical Lab Scientist and Radiographers have paid me to set the nation on fire; I also say to you: get a journalist and pay him #150 million Naira to do similar report. Should you get confused on whom to hire, I will recommend my good colleague, Rudolf Okonkwo to you, but be prepared to cough out dollars. When has it become a mortal sin to stand on the side of truth simply because a few group of individuals who fear that their ‘position’ is been threatened? They cry to high heaven that Fejiro Oliver is pulling the country down with his reports, as if I’m the corrupt politician looting the country silly. How are the mighty fallen, how are the sacred desecrated; this seem to be the lots of the doctors of medicine who are aggrieved that the mask surrounding them has been unmasked, the mystery behind their insignificant work demystified and thus Fejiro Oliver head must pay for it. Truth be told and the game of fairness played. This is not the doctors of medicine we used to know, and just as a Medical Director of the NMA extraction called to express his view “Fejiro, I must acknowledge your most unbiased stand in this issue. You may have hurt my medical colleagues but I can authoritatively tell you that this is not the true way that the health system is practiced. It is teamwork with each medical officer dependent on each other. NMA has become a political tool and we of the progressive truly apologize for their misdeed”. We have shifted attention from Suntai Danbaba return from the USA, with the media agog of the medical strike. A medical doctor who called summarized it, “Oliver, you and your JOHESU cohorts have rendered the news of Taraba State governor return useless, rather all comments were directed at the strike even broadcasted on BBM. You may have succeeded in this battle, but we will smoke you out”. Another fellow who called very early in the morning thundered brimstone that I have torn the country apart with my report and he will personally fish me out to deal with. Still yet followed numerous messages that should I succeed in getting Mr. Chukwu Onyebuchi removed as the Minister of health, my days on earth are numbered as I will go down with him. Now, do I cower at threats of death, or do I shiver at the sound of bullets pelted in my skull? NO! Many Journalists have paid the supreme price before now and if this strike will lead to liberation and harmony in the health sector, with me paying the price; so be it. But know you this, you who have promised to smoke me out. Fejiro Oliver needs no smoking out; your colleagues see me every day as we go out for games and clubs to hang out; they encourage the work we at secretsreporters do, even this one that we have removed the ‘shield’ from them. They have our pictures with them, just as they have our addresses. We gave out our phone numbers and email addresses to enable us interact, so feel free to carry out your threat. However, we have forwarded your threats to the committee for the protection of Journalists, Reporters without border etc and they are aware of all we do. Besides, there is a throne in heaven that watches over the affairs of men. The throne seats an incorruptible judge and that judge watches over our lives and we shall he protect. To you who have called proposing seminars and youth leadership series and have Fejiro Oliver speak, do know this: I do not reject the offers to speak due to threat. No! I do so to focus on the liberation mission ahead, the challenges that comes with reporting. We do not report for fame or to globe trot; we report to set straight the records That said, let the truth continue and the scales that have long blinded patients’ eyes fall off. With tears in my eyes I type, seeing dead bodies dumped in the mortuary due to this strike, dead bodies that would have been living, had the pride of a profession not consume them. Just few days that the nurses left the sick baby unit (SBU), babies who would have been the savior of the country has been sent to early graves. This is the wickedness of man as portrayed by Mr. Chukwu Onyebuchi. Have these doctors of medicine now realize that these nurses run the hospital and not them as they claim? Do they not know that the nurses are the fathers and mothers of the patient who truly do all the work, yet get no recognition? Just like an American doctor confesses, “doctors will see you anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes a day, depending on how sick you are, and the rest of the day is the nurse. They are the ones making sure you get your pills and checking that your vital signs aren’t dropping. If you start vomiting, doctors will run out of the room and the nurses will rush in. they change your wound dressing and dress your IV line, and clean disgusting things off you even though you aren’t their only patient. I learned that they are keys to be a good doctor. You piss off the nursing staff and you have a miserable career at that hospital. They are as important as being a good doctor as your medical degree, even more. If you come out of the medical school with a chip on your shoulder against nurses, you better lose it fast. Because they will make or break your training, and often know more than you do. Be nice and they will teach you. A good neurology nurse is often a better neurologist than doctors that I have met. I don’t understand physicians who adopt an adversarial relationship with nurses. They are depriving themselves of an education in hospital wisdom. On a difficult day on call, sometimes all it takes is a sympathetic nurse to temporarily add you to his/her patient list, steal you a diet coke from the fridge and let you cry on her/his shoulder for five minutes. It doesn’t make the day any less busy, but helps you absorb the punishment later”. That’s a true confession from a trained doctor in a system that works. We could bring more or haven’t you heard that a nurse is the health minister in Botswana, a country who by WHO standard rank better than Nigerian, which has been ran underground by MBBS graduates? We do not heat the polity nor wish to cause the country to break up, but we want to break the monopoly of a 12 percent professionals, who according to one of them, become demi gods the moment they go into specialization. Almost all medical professions specialize, just as they have knowledge of all branches of medicine; what then is the crown of ego that rest on our doctor of medicine head? What do we say about the medical lab scientist that can operate individually without help from the doctors of medicine? Scientists who the general body physicians despicably call lab technologist to raise their ego. For the various years I have fallen sick, I reiterate that I have never needed the services of a physician, but I have gone countless to have the lab scientist carry out a test on me, nurses taken care of me, doctor of optometry administer treatment to me and the DPT brought me back to normalcy. I have visited the pharmacist (who graduates as doctors, Pharm D) to get them prescribe drugs which have made me whole or is it the radiologist that I have gone to for scan that I need mention? All of them have I met without referral by the general body physician. Is it the case of NYSC that I went for years ago in the North and I fell sick in camp, yet none of the youth corp. physician could diagnose the case? Travel wider, dear ‘doctor’ and know that in the U.S, they have Doctor of Medical lab science (D.MLS), and they manage the lab together with pathologists in what is called Matrix management. You call your colleagues who spent years in school paramedics; pray, define who a paramedic? Live and let’s live! Let the speck fall off the masses eyes and let the deceit stop. You accuse secretsreporters of not medically grounded and thus report fiction. Deny it that you do a course in physiotherapy apart from your year one, which is if you ever do at all. Lie to Nigerians that the doctors of physiotherapists don’t get first hand contact with patients. Spread the lies that radiographers/radiologists who are exposed to radiation and carry out ORIF on an orthopedic patient snap only pictures and unable to read what they film. Keep the falsehood on that pharmacists who make the drugs your patients use are just dispensers. Let your conscience guide you as you pedal lies to the innocent public. Tell us that the years they spent in medical school was just to learn photography, (a course we journalists studied in school), sell drugs, take blood samples or just learnt how to use infrared to relieve pains? Now that the strike is on; Oh ye almighty doctors, do the job. Care for the sick babies and patients that their parents, the nurses have left under your care. Carry out the pathology test that you claim to know and snap the pictures you say the imaging scientists do. How long will this deception live that only MBBS graduates should be CMD.? Do we tell it to the world how OAUTH CMD made the hospital to be sealed for not paying tax for six years, hence owing #3 billion? Was it that the taxes were not been deducted from salary? Obviously no, rather it disappeared into thin air, a case of mismanagement. The various ministers of health in USA, France and numerous countries are not MBBS practitioners, but a ministry where nurses and other medical practitioners have headed. Are we no longer copying the western world again? Do we dance only the dance when it suits our dance steps? The minister of health has failed us and his sack is long overdue. The president I know may not give a damn, but he cares about the loss of lives. We know that he feels the pain and Nigerians on bended knees are pleading that you ask Onyebuchi to resign honorably. Secretsreporters has confirmed that the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta has become a ghost land “The JOHESU strike embarked upon by health workers to drive home their demands for equity and fairness in the sector has left the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta a ghost town. Whereas, the NMA president and his cronies have vowed and boasted to keep the health sectors running even in the absence of other health workers. However, only 2 days into the strike, the usually bustling compound of the hospital has been turned to a ghost town as service areas were under lock and key and most wards have been deserted. Rather than accept their failure and inability to run a health system, Chukwu’s cronies in the compound have been employing various tactics ranging from intimidation, cheap blackmail, threats and confrontation. Even the police were invited but they were handled with maturity and for the first time in my life, the police did not allow themselves to be used cheaply and dragged unnecessarily into a purely labour dispute. However, in their grandiose manner, these general body physicians still carry their shoulders high and passing various comments aimed at dampening our spirits or intimidating other health professionals. SOME OBNOXIOUS COMMENTS BY SOME ARROGANT PHYSICIANS IN ARO (Acting provost and chief medical director): “I will not even discharge my patients; I will only ask the stable patients to manage the unstable ones’’ This implies that they recognize that they can’t do it alone but rather than accept the fact, they choose to utilize those who are not trained to attend to clients. “Instead of the paralysis of the hospital activities during strikes, some hospital departments should be outsourced e.g. Pharmacy, Laboratory e.t.c.” ‘’In an abnormal situation like this, we don’t need to lose our sanity, become irresponsible and wicked’’ Implying that strike is an act of wickedness on the patient, and does not matter what happens to the other health professional. (A week old consultant): “I only came like a unionist in order to advice you. Once they dangle carrot before your people, they will come back to work”. Other health professionals should be aware of how they are being perceived by these arrogant physicians. A message to those that might want to sabotage the efforts. “Their activists should be sacked” (Another very proud consultant): But they must know that not even death can stop us in this struggle. We are prepared to utilize the last drop of blood in our veins to ensure that fairness and justice is ensured. “Upon all these illegality you are doing”. They think it is illegality to demand for your rights, a right which the industrial court has ruled should be granted” INTERVIEW WITH NUPTAM NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, FELIX FANIRAN Q1.Reasons for d strike: The origin of this could be traced to 1985-1993 when late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a medical practitioner and a leader of Nigerian Medical Association was the Minister of Health under Gen Ibrahim Babangida as Head of state. Olikoye discriminated against non ‘medical practitioners’ in many ways, namely: wrong interpretation of d phrase-”medically qualified “which he claimed meant ‘Medical Practitioners’ instead of “Health care Professionals’, the refusal to implement the Industrial Arbitration Panel/National Industrial Court ruling in favour of Nurses/Midwives on d issues of recognizing Nurses as a profession, creation of a directorate for them in the FMOH since then, the approval of a separate salary structure for Medical and Dental practitioners(M SS/MSSS in 1991 with fat allowances ) to the detriment of other professionals/workers. Regrettably, subsequent Ministers of NMA extraction-Profs Osotimehin and Onyebuchi Chukwu have been trying to do same. The current decision of JOHESU is to put an end to these acts of neo-colonialism and Professionalism which NMA and her members backed by the Government through the Minister of Health have subjected other Health Professionals/workers to. Specifically, the current impasse is based on: A 10-point demand submitted to FMOH in Sept 2011- 4 issues referred to NIC in June 2012(Skipping of salary level CONHESS 10, Withdrawal of consultancy status from non -NMA members, Non- payment of Specialist allowance to allied health professionals. Refusal to honour March 2006 ruling of NIC on call duty and other professional allowances. Please note, agreement was reached on the 10th of May 2012 on five other. Issues viz; 1) promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15. (2),Call for implementation of )2008 Job evaluation exercise, ( 3) The Abdullahi Bello presidential committee report on Harmony. (4)Upward review of retirement age as their counter parts in d Universities. (5) Reconstitution of Boards of Hospitals to reflect the multi professional nature of d sector. Finally, the 10th point is-the removal of d Minister for discrimination. Q2.On d issue of appeal: I am not aware if the minister is honestly sincere about this .Labour issues of this nature end at the National Industrial Court. However if it is true, it means the Minister does not want peace in the health sector and Mr. President should do away with him immediately. Please be informed that both parties to the dispute-JOHESU/FMOH agreed inter-alia in June 2012 that the outcome of d NIC would be acceptable to us. Prof Chukwu is following the footsteps of his seniors-Profs Osotimehin and Ransome Kuti who connived with NMA leaders to unleash terror on other Health Professionals’/Workers by refusing to implement relevant awards .Enough is enough! Q3. On why JOHESU, not individual union. JOHESU is for an improved health care delivery nationwide: Each Union is autonomous and may embark on strike independently after fulfilling the approved rules but where all Unions have common cause, JOHESU comes in to play that role. In the case of NMA, it is not a registered Trade Union; therefore, anytime it embarks on strike, it does so illegally. Henceforth, any group or association which is not legally registered as a trade union and carries out trade union activities would be dealt with accordingly. Conglomeration/coalition of five registered Trade/Industrial Unions was formed in 2008 to promote unity, harmony and teamwork (end) My dear President, hearken to the voice of reason. Do we give you the full profile of your minister how and why he was removed as Medical Director of Ebonyi State specialist hospital without his knowledge for actions such as this and other issues? We will, but in due time! Our health must not be played politics with by a minister who has shown his incompetence managing one hospital. If you could sack the minister of youth development, Mr. Inuwa Abdul-Kadir for acts not as grievous as Onyebuchi; do same to this minister of health. This is the deciding moment of truth, a time to take a stand to collectively stop monopoly in the health sector. The actions we take today are the history which our generations will judge us with. Mr. President, think of the calamity that will happen should state and local government hospitals join this strike on 28th of August. JOHESU is on the way to Calvary and the NMA is acting the Romans, but, and it’s a big but; should they mount the deadly cross, there may be no savior and we will pay with our blood. What will posterity remember you for when this medical genocide takes place under your presidency? Fejiro Oliver, a Journalist can be reached on secretsreporters@gmail.com and +2348026797588 (sms only please). You can now follow on twitter @fejirooliver86 and Facebook fejirooliver86 |
Re: Health Workers Strike by gr8tstar: 9:19am On Aug 27, 2013 |
In response to the NMA published statement The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) : A Major Cause of Poor Health Services in Nigeria The attention of the national leadership of Nigerian Union of Pharmacists/ Physiotherapists, Medical Scientists and other Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) also known as NUPMTPAM has been drawn to press statements credited to the President and Secretary of Nigerian Medical Association – Drs. Enabulele and Pemu….. published by many national dailies between 27th September and 3rd October, 2012. The NMA was reported to have described the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Allied Health Professionals as ‘amorphous’ and their demands from government “illegitimate and unjustified”. They went further to ask the government not to grant those requests which they described as “reminiscent to stealing from Government” particularly on the issue of skipping or jumping a salary grade in the civil or public service. They also called on government to privatize the services of Physiotherapy, Radiographer, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory and others in government hospitals. They threatened a strike and a request for elongation of CONMESS should our requests be granted by Government. Our initial reaction was to refrain from replying since we have always regarded the NMA as a sister organization and an important member of the health family who needs to work harmoniously in the health sector with us but several reasons compelled this rejoinder, namely: pressures from members of our Unions and professional associations nationwide, the need to properly educate the leadership of NMA who have exposed themselves as ignorant, arrogant, selfish and highly indisciplined. We also intend to satisfy the good people of Nigerian public who have the right to know the true position of things and to ensure that errors are corrected while records are properly kept. JOHESU/Allied Health Professionals JOHESU is a coalition of five recognized and duly registered trade/labour unions currently operating in the Health sector. The Unions are: Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUW), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Nigerian Union of Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Medical Scientists and Professionals Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM) otherwise known as Allied Health Professionals. All these were first registered by Decree 22 o 1978 now Trade Unions Act Cap T14 2004 LFN. We challenge the NMA leaders to tell the public under which law their own association is registered. The NMA is neither registered as a Trade/Labour Union nor under the land perpetual act. Henceforth, the NMA is hereby warned to desist from operating as if it were a registered Trade Union otherwise litigation in court of justice awaits your leadership. Justification/Legality of JOHESU’S Demands In September, 2011, JOHESU submitted a list often demands to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health. The demands are: Request for the creation of the post of Director on salary level 17 (CONHESS 15) and the promotion of Deputy Directors who have been on the same grade since 2000 to the post of Director on salary level CONHESS 15. The call for the withdrawal of a circular illegally and unprocedurally issued by the office of Head of Service of the Federation through the connivance of the Minister of Health and NMA to deprive Health workers from further enjoying promotion from grade level 09 to 11 (the equivalent of civil service grade level 10-12) which has been in the health sector and civil service since Udoji Awards of 1974. A call for review of retirement age of Health Sector staff to 65 years in line with their counterparts in the Universities and Allied Institutions. The call or the restoration of Consultant’s status removed unjustly in December 2010 by the current Minister of Healthn NMA member from qualified health care professionals who have been enjoying the benefits via a Federal Government Circular of September 1976 which has not been superseded. The call for reconstituting the Boards of Management of Tertiary Health Institutions dissolved since September, 2011 whereas those of the Universities have been reconstituted over six months ago. The call for the release and immediate implementation of 2008 job Evaluation Report being delayed deliberately by NMA members. Request for implementation of National Industrial Court’s Ruling of March 2006 and the Collective Bargaining, Agreement of 2009 on Call, Shift, Specialist allowances and others. Request for immediate implementation of the recommendations of Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in the Health Sector, submitted since November, 2011. The NMA is working hard against its implementation. A call on the Minister to convene a stakeholder’s conference to iron out the grey areas in the current National Health Bill so that when the National Assembly conducts a public hearing, a single voice from the Health Sector will be presented, thus accelerating the bill’s passage. The call for re-assignment of the two current Ministers of Health who are biased in favour of NMA and against other Health Professionals/Workers and their replacement with two new persons, one of whom should be an Allied Health Professional. We would be grateful if the NMA could point out anyone of these demands that is unjustified or illegitimate. The NMA leaders need a refresher course in semantics, laws of Nigeria, and Public decorum. Is Skipping/Jumping of a Grade Level in the Civil Service Legal? The statement of NMA on this issue shows that both NMA and the Honourable Minister of Health hold same opinion and both have been jointly attacking JOHESU indicating they are not properly informed or educated. Since Udoji awards of 1974, skipping of a grade level or more has been built into different salary structures to serve as an incentive to motivate civil or public servants. For instance, in the 70s, University Professors earned grade level 16 (the highest then), associate Professor/reader earned grade level 14. Note that grade level 15 was skipped. Similarly, we had the following then: Senior Lecturer= GL.13 Lecturer grade I=GL.11 Note: that (12) was skipped or jumped. In the civil service, since 1974 no Administrative Officers cadre was placed on GL .11. Up- til now, it is being skipped. However, in 1981, the Universities salary grading changed from sixteen to fifteen grade levels, courtesy the Cookey commission report. To convert sixteen to fifteen grade levels, one level was omitted and that was then called University Salary Scale (USS 10). In 1982, Onosode Commission recommended that Teaching Hospitals and Research Institutes should enjoy similar conditions of service with the Universities since they perform similar functions. Government accepted this, hence, USS was introduced in the Health Sector and Research Institutes. Up-til today, a 15-scale salary system operates in all Tertiary Institutions and all of them skip salary grade “10” at various times under various salary systems, namely: USS (1981/82) to EUSS/RUSS (1991) to HATISS (1993-2007) to CONTISS (2007) and now CONTISS and UASS (University) CONHESS (Health Sector) CONRISS (Research Institutes). Furthermore, the UASS 1-7 is equivalent to CONHESS 7-15 or the civil service CONPSS 08-17. This shows that the University Academic on UASS moves from 9-11, and 11-13 thus skipping twice, an equivalent of skipping three grade levels on Civil Service salary structure, but two on CONHESS. CONPSS CONHESS CONMESS Graduate Assistant= 108 07 _ Asst. Lecturer =209 08 _ Lecturer 2=310 09 01 (11)* (10)* 02 Lecturer 1=412 11 03 Senior Lecturer=5 13/14/15 12/13 04/05 Associate Professor=616 14 06 Professor=717 15 07 This write up has shown that skipping or jumping of a grade level or more is neither new nor strange nor illegal. It has been with us since early 70s or earlier and it is deliberately created to serve as an incentive such as double or triple promotion to motivate workers. Circular issued by Head of Service in 2010 and 2011. “Stealing from Government Purse” The NMA leadership accused JOHESU/ Allied Health Professionals of stealing from Government purse for insisting on the legal rights of her members to continue to skip Salary CONHESS 10. We demand an apology from NMA leaders within the next fifteen days of this publication or face a libel suit. Privatization of clinical services of Physiotherapy, Pharmacy. Laboratory etc A call for privatization by NMA of core services the government hospitals are rendering has clearly shown that the NMA leaders are out of tune with the purpose of government and the roles of Professional Association or Unions to the populace. We must distinguish between Public-Private Partnership and outright privatization. The former is a symbiotic and mutual relationship which will not leave either party at a loss. It is a gain-gain relationship but the latter, privatization, if a system where a party takes over the running of the business of the government and runs it to make maximum profit for his/ her own organization. This will leave the government hospital, the employees of government and the patients or clients of health services to be at a great loss. Workers will be retrenched, the few that are left will be over-worked and be paid less, patients will pay very high bills and the resultant effect is that the hospitals become inaccessible to the poor, the low and medium income earners, while unemployment will soar higher and the populace will be a great loser. Since health services should be the social right of individuals, citizens have the right of access to high quality health care. It has been observed that while NMA leaders suggest the privatization of services rendered by Allied Health Professionals, they are silent on their own services, a proof of selfishness and inconsiderateness. They are merely devising a means to divert numerous patients who will not be able to afford high bills in the privatized government hospitals to be seen in their own private clinics and hospitals as well as buy up the government health institutions. While we concede the right to make suggestion to NMA and others, we have a firm conviction that no responsible government will take such a decision without getting the opinions of majority stakeholders in the system. Giving the fact that members of JOHESU/Allied Health Professionals constitute over 80% of the health sector’s work force, the idea of privatization is not supported by us. Threat of Strike Should our Demands be Granted Five of our demands are currently, being looked into for implementation having jointly signed an agreement on the 10th May, 2012. Four others have been referred to the National Industrial Court for ruling. The tenth demand, the removal of the Health Ministers, is being pursued vigorously. We have no doubt in our minds that the demands shall be granted because they are legitimate and justified. If the NMA wants to enjoy the rights of labour Union, the association should apply for registration as such. Should NMA continue to embark on strike against the laws of the nation, appropriate litigation actions will be taken to check her excesses being an unregistered labour union and an illegal organization. Calling for Extension of CONMESS The NMA should not hide under the demands of JOHESU/Allied Health Professionals to call for the extension of CONMESS. It should be placed on record that the CONMESS as a salary structure was achieved illegally in 2009 when NMA secretly bargained with the government as if it were a registered trade union. We warned the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission then not to allow NMA to break ranks with the other Unions/Professional Associations but the government agencies collaborated with Prof. Osotimehin , former Health Minister, to give NMA a separate salary structure – CONMESS. As shown by Nigerian Television Authority in March 2009, the NMA leaders jubilated wildly and expressed joy and happiness in being given CONMESS. It is too early for NMA to call for an elongation. We recall how NMA was given MSS/MSSS in 1991 while others were discriminated against. This led to series of industrial crises which had not been fully resolved before Professor Osotimehin’s era which compounded the problem. The fact of the matter now is that the NMA has realized the error committed in having a separate salary structure in a health sector where NMA should play a prominent role to ensure unity and team spirit but it is the NMA that fuels disunity, crisis and indiscipline in the system. OBSERVATIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS We wish to draw the attention of NMA leaders/members to the need for repentance, re-assessment and reversal of action so that they can return to the larger fold of the health family. NMA leaders and members should bury their pride and be humble to know that others have a lot to contribute in the health sector and that no one is more important than the other whether junior staff, para medical worker, Administrative or other supportive staff. All should work collaboratively with the health care providers to achieve a peaceful atmosphere for achieving the desired goal. Unless the NMA leadership adopts a change in attitude, Nigeria’s health care system will be far from improvement. Signed: F.O. Faniran, M.Sc. FNSP Consultant Neuro/Community Physiotherapist National President, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP/NUPMTPAM) Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 08060508721 O.C. Ogbonna Bsc, MSc Human Nutrition/Dietetics Member NDA RD National General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP/NUPMTPAM) Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 080363655 |
Re: Health Workers Strike by gr8tstar: 9:20am On Aug 27, 2013 |
Following the industrial crisis rocking the health sector, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, to order. In a statement: “Call the minister to order,” the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, said: “The congress is saddened by the fact that for most of his tenure, Prof. Chukwu has been embroiled in intra-sector disputes, instead of growing the sector. I urge President Jonathan to call the Minister of Health to order before he does incalculable harm in the health sector.” Omar said the congress has watched with concern, the spate of violations of collective agreements by the Federal Government leading to avoidable industrial crisis. He said the latest being that of the health sector by the Minister of Health, who has flagrantly observed in the breach not only an agreement reached with the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), but the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC), leading to the ongoing strike in the health sector. According to him, the NLC was dismayed that the minister did not only violate, dishonour and abandon a ruling by a competent court as the NIC, but also repudiated an earlier agreement with the unions that both parties would be bound by the outcome of the court ruling, and was in the forefront of taking the case to court through the Minister of Labour. Describing the minister’s action as an invitation to chaos, NLC said: “One of the hallmarks of any democracy is respect for the rule of law. Violation of this time- honoured value constitutes not only a breach of trust, but also an invitation to anarchy.” It added: “It is all the more worrying when this violation is done by a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who ought not only to hold out himself as the Chief Physician of the country, but also a key ambassador of the Jonathan administration. “The breaches of agreement are the genesis of the dispute.” NLC advised the minister to stop playing politics with the health of Nigerians, especially the poor, who do not have the wherewithal or access to slush funds to patronise private hospitals and go for routine foreign check-ups. The statement also noted that : “Rather than embark on a campaign of calumny against the unions and a laborious appeal process with dire health and industrial consequences to the country, Congress advises the Minister to immediately toe the path of honour by recognising the court judgment and implementing the demands of the unions, which include the following: “Those earlier appointed as health consultants would continue to enjoy the status with all benefits and the withdrawal of their letters of appointment is irregular, null and void. They should immediately be returned to their hitherto status with full pay arrears. “That skipping of CONHESS 10 is legal and the purported circular by the Ministry of Health and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stopping it is illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever. Members of the unions, who were adversely affected by the minister’s decision, should be appropriately placed with accrued arrears from the date they were reverted paid to them. “That negotiations should commence towards the review of shift duty, call duty allowances and other allowances. “We commend the prompt intervention of the Minister of Labour, which would have brought about the desired industrial harmony, but for the arrogant and uncompromising attitude of the Minister of Health. He did not only abort a meeting called last week by the Minister of Labour for both parties to hold discussions, but also offered no regrets for his conspicuous absence.” 24 minutes ago |
Re: Health Workers Strike by gr8tstar: 6:51pm On Aug 28, 2013 |
Medical Workers Strike Suspension: If I Were NMA By Fejiro Oliver Posted by Editor A choir is made up of many voices, including yours and mine. If one by one all go silent then all that will be left are the soloists. Don’t let a loud few determine the nature of the sound. It makes for poor harmony and diminishes the song.” – Vera Nazarian Generations change their style of life; they dictate how their future and that of their unborn should be. They do so not at the peril of others, but for the entire benefit of mankind. Their struggle begins from the womb and come to fruition when they decide to take their destinies in their hands. Still yet, they are sympathetic to the cause of their current generation even as they fight for a tomorrow they may never see. But nothing is more paradisic (my own word for living in paradise) than see their struggles, agitations and tussle for survival come to fruition while the breath of life still run in them. The above aptly capture the delicate health system and their medical workers who despite their agitations remembered their Hippocratic Oath and graciously, but with a clause suspended the strike. At exactly 12.15am Wednesday, a top official of the union sent me a text that the strike has just been suspended. Before then, a government top official has hinted me that they are meeting and the minister who is currently under fire is ready to climb down from his high horse and accede to JOHESU requests. In the meeting which had the minister of health were also present; the Head of civil service of the federation and National President of TUC was an agreement reached that the strike will be suspended for four weeks, with an implementation committee headed by the Head of civil service to implement the ruling of the National Industrial court and the minister not to go on appeal. The true mark of repentance is humility, which Mr. Onyebuchi Chukwu (who is likely to see me as an antagonist, but I see him as a friend in progress) may have shown by finally seeing reasons for the just action of JOHESU. I do not believe he’s unjustly insensitive, but the NMA constituency which he belongs seems to affect his reasoning. He has decided to right the wrongs of Late Ransome Kuti and we bid posterity to begin his judgment from there. Now that the strike has been called off; what would I have done if I were the NMA national president? The strike once again has proved that the doctors of medicine(MD) cannot work as health practitioners without the other doctors and medical practitioners’, thus proving that all services rendered by these medical personnel are indispensible. Were I the NMA chairman, I would humbly call my partners in JOHESU and NUPTAM; apologize for any inflammatory statements that might have angered their members to pour out their venomous wrath on Nigerians, which led to increased number of death since their services were withdrawn. I will borrow a leaf from the NMA Gombe State chairman, Dr Jauro Degri statement, acknowledging their inability to take the place of the other medical officers, thus, “we want to inform the public that whatever service we cannot render as a result of the strike, we can always advise and direct them to where they can be attended to”. It doesn’t cost a dime to be modest and plead that the ultimate end for all medical workers is what Dr Jauro said, “We are all trained to save lives and these lives, we must save, because we know that one day, we must account for this work that we are doing,”. This is what the NMA should do preaching unity and collaboration among themselves. Were I the NMA, I will team up with NUPTAM to form a union that will take the government on the decayed health facilities in the country, failed health issues as their ASUU counterpart are demanding for improvement in the education industry. Imagine a union such as this going on strike! You can bet on it that their industrial action will not last for more than 48 hours before the government of the day consent to their reasonable request(s). They will get the optimum support of all Nigerians, as their being indispensible will be proved beyond reasonable doubt. I will reflect on the NMA strike in Lagos State where Governor Babatunde Fashola relegated them to an inconsequential association, despite the weeks it lingered, with works going on fully in Lagos hospitals. A union such has this would have made Fashola literary creeping and begging for it to be called off. If I were NMA; I would advocate for this common union in the spirit of brotherhood and comradeship. Had I been the NMA, I will truly seek the advice of the Medical Laboratory scientist who is more grounded in their field and thus better, than a pathologist. I will see their services as indispensible, taking a big lesson from the MD in UBTH who tried to do the work of the striking Medical scientist and ended up spilling 18 PCV out of 24 PCV, a clear case of inability. How about the case of the Doctors of physiotherapy (DPT)? The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) will join the Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board (MRTB) to ask the government to provide enough equipment to the various hospitals, to enable the few graduates they produce do their internship in any hospital in the country. Next, we will write to Nigerian Universities Commission to increase the number of universities studying this course (they are less than 15), while we do all it takes to meet the requirements to setting up such department. A new branch of medicine it is but indispensible. Nigerian former military president, Babangida can testify to it, when he went for a broken leg treatment abroad, as well as former vice president, Atiku Abubakar who have been treated by name. Do we need to mention the governor of Taraba State who needs it to come back to his memory, working alongside a neuro specialist? To the nurses, who are the de facto head of the wards, will I pledge my union support, to respect and not claim to be their boss when actually we are not, either by practice or training, except by age or grade level. We at the NMA executive will set up a committee to look into the unwritten fracas happening between the doctors of medicine and nursing graduates; then proffer a solution once and for all, knowing that the common stake we share is to make a patient get well. We will go the length of meeting the radiography board to iron out our differences while reaching a synergy that not only will they exercise their authority as the modern eyes of in-depth medical practice in their private hospitals, but also government hospitals. We understand that we don’t know anything about diet, and thus should not feign to be dieticians. As the NMA, we accept that we are only a group of specialist in a particular field, who even in our personal lives seek the advice of the dieticians and follow strictly the diet they laid down for us. This dietary department, if true confession is made is a no go area, and thus we won’t and should not deceive patients that it’s within our jurisdiction to give right solution. Succinctly put; we are only an allied profession to it just as we are to others and they are to us. To undermine the Pharmacists who are called Doctor of Pharmacy abroad, if I were a NMA president is to commit career suicide, since my patients cure begin from their doorsteps. They manufacture the drugs which we prescribe to whoever seeks our advice. Beside, these are group of people who can work alone and in places outside the hospital/clinic settings without needing my services or educational input. I will seek to mend fence with them if there were any. Why should we in the medical sector struggle for leadership when that is actually not the problem with our hospitals. In the beginning, it was not so; thus I will let my NMA constituency know that there are no superior in this field of medicine, but equals working toward the same purpose, to achieve a common goal- improved and better health care for us with good monetary value accrued to our services. The debate for harmony is a welcome development, so will I see it, after all, we truly harmonize in the discharge of our duties to the patients. The mistake/failure on the part of a medical lab scientist or radiographer renders useless all the treatment of a doctor of medicine or doctor of physiotherapy. The careless action of a nurse will see a patient to the grave and the list goes on. I will gladly follow the words of Tony Hillarman, “Everything is connected. The wing of the corn beetle affects the direction of the wind, the way the sand drifts, the way the light reflects into the eye of man beholding his reality. All is part of totality, and in this totality man finds his hozro, his way of walking in harmony, with beauty all around him”. This is the harmony that we truly need which should reflect in the leadership. We agree that anyone can head, but better if a hospital administrator is made the head while we all focus on our clinical duties, and the commissioner or minister of health being from any competent medical practitioner. Oh if I were! I will not see Fejiro Oliver as a witch hunting journalist, who was paid to demystify the medical profession, but a reporter who was simply doing his job to see that the health sector is truly reformed and a better working relationship among all the practitioners. Yes, I will look at all he has said critically, analyzed it and with modesty kick off to work. I really wish were! Nothing gladdens a reporter’s heart than seeing his genuine cry heard in the interest of the nation. We at secretsreporters saw a medical strike genocide coming had the state and local government hospitals joined today, that the strike was eventually suspended. We saw our grandparents in the village raining curses on the government for denying them access to these medical workers, most especially the ladies who love to visit a hospital and love being attended to by the ladies in white. While they label our report as being too frank; we just could not be too mild with the lives of Nigerians. What they fail to understand is that should NMA go on a just strike tomorrow, we will still be here to ring the bells in support of them. Oh yes, we will! We‘ve not backed out of the call to relieve the minister of health of his ministerial position, but it’s never late for him to make amend, go back to the drawing table and retrace his steps. The strike has only been suspended, not called off; hence let the agreement and consensus to these deserving requests be granted. This is no call of support for JOHESU but for the general good of the citizenry who will die next after the expiration of four weeks with the agreement not honored. Even the lands have rejected their corpse; Mr. President, do not force them on the land. For now, JOHESU/NUPTAM and the patients in the hospitals that will now see their doctors, Nurses, Medical lab scientist, Imaging Scientist, Dieticians etc back to work treat them, can now pop champagne. These little things matter… Fejiro Oliver, a Journalist can be reached on secretsreporters@gmail.com and +2348026797588 (sms only please). You can now follow on twitter @ fejirooliver86 and Facebook fejirooliver86 |
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