From NSP President:

Controversy trailing the recent news on President Goodluck Jonathan has jolted the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapists (NSP) into warning the government not to heat the already burning fire in the health sector.

In a press release made available to us and signed by the National President, Dr. Taiwo Oyewunmi, the society condemned the action of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who they accuse of going through the backdoor to get such office created.

"We condemn in totality the move to accede to NMA demands by the Federal Government on the appointment of Surgeon-General and other related matters. We will fight government to a standstill and collaborate with other professional associations in the health sector. The NSP Secretariat will publish a usable information tool kit for NSP members on this matter. The NMA is trying to go through back door and manipulate government to approve what they cannot intelligently negotiate for on a round table”

He likened the current action of the President to the era when he named the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after Moshood Abiola using executive fiat without recourse to the Senate and House of Representatives. They promised a total show down of the health sector like never before should this creation take place. 

“The push has come to shove. Be on look out for a show down. It is unfortunate that the Presidency made such pronouncement without adequate consultations. This issue is similar to how President Goodluck Jonathan renamed University of Lagos without consideration for due process". The statement read.

Speaking with Dr Taiwo on phone, he expressed his unwillingness to call out members to go on strike as the patients are always the ones who suffer. “Fejiro, I hate to go on strike. It is not good as the patients are always the one who suffer, but it seems that is the only language the government understands. Nobody among us is the leader of the health team and thus the SGF is unnecessary. The patient is the leader and without them; none of us will be in the health sector”, he said.

Meanwhile the residency programme of the Doctors of Physiotherapy which was billed to kick off this year we gathered is deliberately being delayed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu. A highly placed source told us that he has refused to grant them audience, to enable them submit the model of the residency plan as demanded by the Ministry of Health despite writing over fifteen letters to him.

This we gathered is not unconnected with the crisis in the health sector, which he feels is fueled by JOHESU which physiotherapists belong. The residency programme is done all over the world by Doctors of Physiotherapists, thus making them specialists in a particular field of medical rehabilitation. A look at the board of the graduates reveals that less than a thousand of them are practicing in the country, which makes one DPT to see over one hundred thousand patient.
Source: Elombah.com


PART 2

From AMLSN President:

Dear Colleagues: I bring you new year greetings and wishes for momentous victories in the days and months ahead. It is indeed instructive that three days into 2014 we have been served the notice of battles ahead. 
We will not surrender our inalienable right to liberty, fairness, equity and justice under whatever circumstance. No one will be allowed to ride on us roughshod in the health sector, neither the elected President of Nigeria nor any member of the healthcare team to which we all belong will be allowed the luxury of misadventure to perpertuate tyranny, servitude and unwholesome dominion in the sector any longer.
 
The Surgeon-General bill was presented in the sixth National Assembly and was rejected and thrown out, because it was found out that it would exacerbate the accrimonious and chaotic situation in the health sector. It went before the Justice Abdullahi Gusau Committee on Harmony in the Health Sector and was rejected. How can it now come through Presidential fiat in a civilan democratic dispensation? This is the greatest joke and fraud of the century in Nigeria. It must not stand. We will teach them one or two lessions on how not to take a people for granted.
 
Court judgments have been treated with levity by the FMOH. Statutory Schemes of Service for other health professions have been trampled under feet by the FMOH, CMDs and MDs. Promotions of our members have been withheld for decades. Professional regulatory laws and Service circulars have been trampled under foot by the FMOH and her agents in hospitals. The rule of the thumb has replaced the rule of law and due process in the health sector. They claim to be wiser than the law courts, the legislature and the National Council on Establishment. They insist that their wishes and fancies must be elevated to the status of laws and schemes of sevice in the health sector. 
 
Haaba!!! Must this be allowed to continue
 
The Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations and the JOHESU will meet on Monday to address the nation and chart the course for a sustained struggle to defeat this mindless attempt to enslave us in the 21st Century.
All hands must be on deck to comply totally and comprehensively with the directives that will be issued on Monday. Those that have the cultivated the habit of sitting on the fence and flouting our directives for our collective good should rethink and decide on the legacies they want to bequeat to unborn generations in the health sector of Nigeria.
 
Now is the time to act to break all vestiges of enslavement, injustice and reckless conduct in the health sector. 100 years of nationhood should herald professional liberty, a sense of belonging, fulfillment and actualization in the health sector in Nigeria. We must stand up to resist this flagrant assault to the very soul of our professional existence.
Thank you.
Dr. G. C. Okara
National President, AMLSN
Chairman, Assembly of Health Professional Associations (AHPA) Abuja.

Source: Medical world Nigeria

This is a very important topic that I expect to be in the front page by now as this implies that there is going to be a total shutdown in the health sector.
Anyhow,thank God am the first to comment.sign of good things in 2014
Dancing For Jesus my Lord and personal saviour

I never knew such organization existed till now. Btw, Nigeria is long overdue to have a surgeon general and that plan has always been in the health priority scale before NMA forcefully pushed for it. The physiotherapists can all go and leak their deep wounds....its always the right thing when its done by GEJ period

Really I expect the federal government to b tactful in dealing with the crisis rocking the health sector as the doctors r always ready to dominate all the top positions in the health sector thereby stagnating other healthcare workers from getting to the peak of their profession. Moderator front page please

Am torn amids d crisis in d health sector: my parents and elder sis on one side, my bro on another side and my younger sis at d receiving end. No be small battle.

The game has just began...... GEJ has been seriously misinformed.

SGF will never see the light of the day.....The fear of JOHESU is the begining of wisdom. The president does not want strike in health sector not knowing that his latest step is invitation to mother of all strike.

The game has just began!!!

rubbish! Lets see how big their b.alls are.game on!

Surgeon-General should not be confused with General surgeon.
In the United States and many areas of British Commonwealth, the title of Surgeon General refers to a physician commissioned by the government and entrusted with public health responsibilities.
The Surgeon-General (SG) is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The Surgeon General's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). The U.S. Surgeon General is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate. SG is the senior or second-highest ranking uniformed officer of the PHSCC, holding the rank of a vice admiral.
And Medical Doctors in the Nigeria military are referred to as Surgeon e.g Surgeon Lieutenant, Surgeon Captain, Surgeon General. FG should always consult stakeholders before concluding.

Surgeon-General should not be confused with General surgeon.
In the United States and many areas of British Commonwealth, the title of Surgeon General refers to a physician commissioned by the government and entrusted with public health responsibilities.
The Surgeon-General (SG) is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The Surgeon General's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). The U.S. Surgeon General is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate. SG is the senior or second-highest ranking uniformed officer of the PHSCC, holding the rank of a vice admiral.
And Medical Doctors in the Nigeria military are referred to as Surgeon e.g Surgeon Lieutenant, Surgeon Captain, Surgeon General. FG should always consult stakeholders before concluding.

What do all these people want the president to do?

NMA /JOHESHU

PENGASSAN /NUPENG- privatisation

NEPA/PHCN - Nigerians

ASSU/ASSUP and the Nigerian Student

I don't envy the president at all , the people who criticise him most likely will not last one day in that office !

May God grant the president the wisdom to move this country forward!
GOD BLESS NIGERIA

@ TEAM_GEJ "The physiotherapists can all go and leak their deep wounds.."

...You did not read the post to the end. The physiotherapists, Lab. Scientists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Radiographer and other health workers are against the move... Meeting will be held on Monday at Pharmacist's house in Lagos.
The court, law makers, and various govt committees has earlier thrown out the idea of SGF because it lacks relevance in Nigerian system of health practice.
Doctor always looking for a way to LORD themselves over others but unfortunately the hospital cannot operate even for a day without this people (JOHESU).
GEJ should be careful not to shoot himself on the foot inquest for his 2015 ambitions. If he agrees to demands of every union, that means the FG will lack focus prior to 2015.

And the battle line is drawn..... this should be interesting

This NMA think that they own the health sector of Nigeria. Why do we need a surgeon general when the minister of health (Professor Chukwu) is a medical doctor himself? He too wears the shoes and he knows where it pinches.

Johesu members are really calling for trouble. When the heat is on, let them be ready to face the consequences. In this kind of situation, doctors will always win. All health staff are important but the doctors determine d direction of patients' management. Patients come to hospital to see doctors.

In US,Britain and other advanced and developing countries, they have surgeon-general n health minister and their roles are well defined. So what do we have against the post of SGF? To embark on industrial action based on that is childish and a show of embarrassment. If they feel that'll solve their problem, let them bring it on.

Well I don't av anything against the SGF office. It myt be needful but it's not the most important thing to do. The doctors are playing politics with this. That's the reason I think JOHESU will slug it off with them. Government now needs to sit with all the parties involved and arrive at a consensus. My 50 cent.

adeola_drg: Well I don't av anything against the SGF office. It myt be needful but it's not the most important thing to do. The doctors are playing politics with this. That's the reason I think JOHESU will slug it off with them. Government now needs to sit with all the parties involved and arrive at a consensus. My 50 cent.

rephrase... JOHESU is playing politics with it

@ Silent_don:
easier said than done. You can't refute the fact that the health sector can not function without JOHESU.
How many private hospital can handle the conditions seen in tertiary hospitals.

OKKO: @ TEAM_GEJ "The physiotherapists can all go and leak their deep wounds.."

...You did not read the post to the end. The physiotherapists, Lab. Scientists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Radiographer and other health workers are against the move... Meeting will be held on Monday at Pharmacist's house in Lagos.
The court, law makers, and various govt committees has earlier thrown out the idea of SGF because it lacks relevance in Nigerian system of health practice.
Doctor always looking for a way to LORD themselves over others but unfortunately the hospital cannot operate even for a day without this people (JOHESU).
GEJ should be careful not to shoot himself on the foot inquest for his 2015 ambitions. If he agrees to demands of every union, that means the FG will lack focus prior to 2015.

Nay, Johesu is just been jealous

@OKKO
Who are the people handling the conditions found in the tertiary hospitals? The answer is simply the doctors. They can as well handle those conditions in their private hospitals. So, doctors will continue to see patients inside and outside the hospital.

I also know that every health worker is important but they are not indispensable. If they go on strike, the essential work can be done by the doctors but the workload will increase which can be corrected with time but when the doctors go on strike, hospital activities will be paralysed.

nma Vs johesu, we are watching!

let johesu do what they like.they fight doctors on everything.circulars have already been issued based on last nights resolution.

Adewummy007: Surgeon-General should not be confused with General surgeon.
In the United States and many areas of British Commonwealth, the title of Surgeon General refers to a physician commissioned by the government and entrusted with public health responsibilities.
The Surgeon-General (SG) is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The Surgeon General's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). The U.S. Surgeon General is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate. SG is the senior or second-highest ranking uniformed officer of the PHSCC, holding the rank of a vice admiral.
And Medical Doctors in the Nigeria military are referred to as Surgeon e.g Surgeon Lieutenant, Surgeon Captain, Surgeon General. FG should always consult stakeholders before concluding.

clearly shows the physiotherapist don´t even know what they are fighting against. I don´t see how the office of the surgeon general can affect or enslave their activities. The surgeon general´s office can´t restrict their activities, neither can that office ban their organisation from functioning.

drnoel:

clearly shows the physiotherapist don´t even know what they are fighting against. I don´t see how the office of the surgeon general can affect or enslave their activities. The surgeon general´s office can´t restrict their activities, neither can that office ban their organisation from functioning.

Neither, u don't know what u're fighting for! How will SGF solve the problem facing the health sector. Moreover I found out SGF myt not necessarily be a surgeon. Then not only doctors work there, its a public health thing, even a biochemist could be there. Correct me plsss, aw would it solve our problems in d health sector?

Lol...the real agreement is concealed. johesu is pursuing the shadow of the real thing.

#yoruba: Ija ilara ki'n tan boro, A'njuwon kosee wi lejo[color=#770077][/color]

adeola_drg:

Neither, u don't know what u're fighting for! How will SGF solve the problem facing the health sector. Moreover I found out SGF myt not necessarily be a surgeon. Then not only doctors work there, its a public health thing, even a biochemist could be there. Correct me plsss, aw would it solve our problems in d health sector?

though the person mustn't necessarily be a surgeon the person must still be a physician i.e a doctor and if I may ask how does skipping solve the problems of infrastructure in the health sector? and also the sgf issue isn't the only thing NMA is asking for but the JOHESU guys will take any opportunity to politicise everything

nma has played their ace! Johesu has been sent on a wild goose chase when the main thing has been sorted out...checkmate!

phantom: nma has played their ace! Johesu has been sent on a wild goose chase when the main thing has been sorted out...checkmate!

gbam!

* To meet with govt on Feb. 7
BY: VICTORIA OJEME
ABUJA – The umbrella body of the dental
and medical practitioners- the Nigerian
Medical Association (NMA), has suspended
for now, its earlier directive to all members
in Nigeria to withdraw their services from
tomorrow, Monday, January 6.
This is to allow for full implementation of all
the elements of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) within the government
set timelines.
NMA President, Osahon Enabulele, stated
this at a press briefing at the end of the
Emergency National Executive Committee of
the association in Abuja, Sunday.
According to him: “All medical and dental
practitioners nationwide are hereby directed
to continue to render their normal and highly
cherished services to the lovely and caring
people of Nigeria.”
He noted that the NMA will on February 7,
meet with government to reappraise the
commitment of the government on the
implementation of the MoU signed with the
association and take actions as she might
deem fit.
Enabulele regretted that: “The decision was
a very hard one to take because when you
have a people who have been pushed for
too long into the ambits of despair, you do
not get surprise when several strategies are
devised to actualised their overall
objectives.
“Also we recognised that we are custodians
of the health of the people, we also feel to
heed to the several appeals by ordinary
Nigerians in spite of our deprivations. This,
to us is a very great sacrifice made by our
members and you know a lot of Nigerian
doctors are still exiting the shores of Nigeria
for other countries where there is better
working tools and enabling environment.”

JOHESU.....lol. I believe they have lost this battle.
Btw, what is the problem in the health sector if not battle for supremacy, Who heads the health sector and renumeration.
You don't expect other health workers to earn as much as medical doctors, not done anywhere in the world. Just like you have Chief medical Directors in teaching hospitals (a medical doctor) so also you have chief pharmacist ( you don't expect a medical doctor to be chief pharmacist).
I think they should concentrate on their work and allow the health sector to move forward. This is the reason why I may support the privatization of the health sectors, if this is done, then they will realize that they have been over stepping their boundaries, because no private investor will rate a physiotherapist more than a medical doctor.

@ Doc Sholz: Eyaaah! Poor NMA, they have the interest of Nigerians at heart, but NRD just came back from strike nah.
After JOHESU meeting on Monday their MOU with FG go get K-leg.

@Dr OBD: you may research to find that the developed nations segregate and pay their health worker in terms of hours spent on patients irrespective of your professional alignment in the sector.
They are surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, dentists etc not physicians.
Consultant physicians in Nigerian comes to work at average of 2days per week, do 3 for 4hrs ward round or clinic and go to their private clinic, telling residents to call whenever any thing serious comes up.
A DPT spends average of 1 to 2hrs to see a single patient.