RESIDENCY SUSPENSION; CHRONICLES
Its no more news that the Federal Govt
yesterday suspended the Residency training
of Medical doctors in Nigeria. The
announcement was greeted by lamentations
and thumpings depending on the angle of
impact. This development however brings to
fore many issues but firstly, WHO ARE
RESIDENT DOCTORS??
Resident doctors can be simply described as
POST GRADUATE DOCTORS IN TRAINING.
Essentially, they are TRAINEES seeking to
specialize in various fields of medicine.
Resident doctors are highly priviledged in the
sense that while the FG TRAINS them, they
are fully paid for their services rendered in
the hospitals. Hence its somewhat an IN
SERVICE TRAINING... Yet they added another
definition to themselves; NOTORIETY FOR
STRIKE ACTIONS EVEN FOR FLIMSY
REASONS...
Now, while no one begrudges the NMA its
rare priviledge of residency, the NMA have
overtly and covertly done everything possible
under the sun to SELFISHLY frustrate the
constitution of residency in the fields of
NURSING, MEDICAL LAB SCIENCES,
PHARMACY and other areas of medical
practice. The NMA especially the body of
Resident Doctors even went to the
ignominable extent of THREATENING STRIKE
ACTIONS if the government dares to extend
these priviledges to other members of the
medical team!! For Nigerian Physicians,
Residency MUST BE FOR THEM ALONE!!! As
far as they are concerned, IT WILL NO MORE
BE "RESIDENCY" IF PHARMACIST, MEDICAL
SCIENTISTS ET AL BENEFIT FROM IT...
Its instructive to note that medical practice
is a MULTI-DISCIPLINARY venture and as
such advancement of knowledge in all fields
is important for the general well being of the
PATIENT, who is at the CENTRA of health
care. Why then would any reasonable man
wish and work towards frustrating members
of his own TEAM (a team he claims to lead)
from advancing in knowledge It really
beats me!!
....and thus began a bitter struggle for
EMANCIPATION by the other professionals in
the health sector. All professionals seek to be
free from the retrogressive grip of NMA and
its allies. The agitation for Residency training
by the other professionals heightened amidst
stiff opposition from NMA. Shockingly, NMA
started demanding for FOREIGN RESIDENCY
TRAINING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
ANGLING AGAINST EVEN "LOCAL" RESIDENCY
FOR OTHERS... Shocking and sad?
Certainly, the residency training is just ONE
OUT OF THOUSANDS of inter-professional
issues in the health sector. With the hard
stance of NMA against the progress of other
members aggravating, resentment and strife
escalated.
Presently, it appears the FG has woken up to
the reality that the health industry is not a
CONCLAVE FOR NMA ALONE and so makes
moves to RESTRUCTURE RESIDENCY TRAINING
in the nation. Its instructive to know that
what is sauce for the goose should also be
sauce for the gander.
If and when the residency programme will be
restored, it must cut across all relevant
fields of medical practice. Should the FG
succeed in doing that, it will signal the FIRST
STEP towards solving the perenial problems
in the health sector. Advancement of
knowledge should be guaranteed across
board to enhance proper patient care.
A SINGLE TREE NEVER MAKES A FOREST. "ONE
TREE HILL" was only a movie. LIVE AND LET
LIVE....
9JA 4 LIFE

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wake me up if Ebola comes next door