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

All we are saying to NMA is "live and let others live" simple! not everyone wants to be a doctor, we just want to reach the apex of our careers , is that too much to ask?

can u kindly refer us to anywhere in the world where they do residency training for nurses, or medical lab scientist, there are other specified path of progress peculiar to this professions, nothhng like residency trainning
worldwide, international best practice , resident doctors are paid, sponsored for a particular number of seminars and trainings, sponsored for their exams. this is not in any way peculiar to nigeria government,even if u do residency in a private hospital, all this that NMA demands applies, make ur findings well