In spite of the imminent threat of the Ebola Virus
in Lagos, striking medical doctors under the aegis
of Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical
Association, have said they will not suspend the
ongoing strike.

The Chairman of the association, Dr Tope Ojo, said
the ongoing strike was not called because of Ebola
and could not be called off because of the threat of
the viral infection in the state.

He said, “We are not on strike because of Ebola. It
was never part of our demands. It wasn’t our fault.”
He, however, said the doctors would continue to
partner with the state government to monitor the
trend of the disease to check its spread.

Ojo, who spoke at a press briefing organised by the
newly elected officials of NMA in the state, said the
association regretted that his team had to take over
the leadership of the association during the
industrial dispute.
He blamed the ongoing crisis in the health sector
on the Federal Government’s mismanagement of
the sector.

He said, ” Why should a government be willing to
concede the headship of the medical institutions to
the hands of allied health workers?
“Will the same government not concede to a
hostess the right to fly a plane or court bailiff the
post of a judge or the head of a university
maintenance unit to be the vice chancellor because
of the so-called opportunistic explanation of team
work?”

Speaking on the contentious issue of granting the
prayers of other health workers to become
consultants , Ojo said the decision of the
government, if allowed, will only create unending
anarchy.
Ojo stated, “The title of ‘ Consultant’ in medical
practice is preserved exclusively for a doctor that
has gone through a minimum of six years
excruciating full time, postgraduate academic
training.

“The patient is traditionally registered under a
consultant, who owns the patient and reserves the
right of success or failure in the chain of events.
We therefore warn the Nigerian people of the
inherent danger of this conspiracy to deceive and
confuse them as they attend hospitals for their
health needs.
“NMA is not against the normal professional
advancement of any allied health professional. Our
position is that the situation must not arise where
there will be anarchy and disruption of the chain of
command that is bound to jeopardise patients’
lives.”

He added that a situation, where doctors are paid
N5,000.00 monthly allowance for hazard was not
only laughable but unbelievable.
Ojo said, “A doctor’s life can be lost in an instance
when exposed to fatal illnesses such as Ebola,
Lassa fever or he may be subjected to a life-long
suffering from HIV or Hepatitis B infection.”