₦airaland Forum

Nonsense, abeg go get ursef a life op...

Dr Kayode Obembe, the National President, Nigerian Medical Association
(NMA) speaks on doctors’ grieviances against the government and why
their strike has persisted, in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA.
It is said that there is no basis for doctors’ strike. Some people see it as
a self-serving one. What is your take?
This is because they do not have the fact. Some of the issues that
doctors are hammering on have been on the drawing board for almost 22
years. Doctors have been short-changed all along. We had tried our best
to rectify these anomalies, particularly with the various changes of salary
scales; we decided that something had to be done. We had to write off
some entitlements of doctors which runs to more than N80 billion. What
are left are allowances for just six months, because of the consideration
we had not only for the government, but the people of Nigeria. So you
can see that we are making some sacrifices.
In some of the circulars, which were issued by the government in
changing from one salary scale to the other, particularly in CONMESS and
CONHESS, doctors were short-changed and we have been talking about it
for years before we now decided we have to do something about it
But all that you have mentioned centred on money
Some of the 24 demands border on doctors’ activities. On top of the list
is the position of deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC),
which had been operating in hospitals but was tactfully abrogated.
Because of some agitations by certain groups, they cancelled it. This was
very infuriating to doctors because if you have established some
positions, all you need to do is to give the reasons for their establishment
and not to just, because some people complained, you go on to cancel it.
Second is on the position of consultants. Other health workers or
paramedics want to be bearing consultants whereas this title is only
meant for doctors in the hospital. NMA said this could produce anarchy
in the health system. Also, some paramedics also want to attain the
post of Chief Medical Director, which hitherto has been the perogative of
medical doctors.
These are some of the things that doctors feel are threatening the
structure of the hospital. And if the structure collapses, then patients’
care will suffer and it will be impossible to operate along the norms and
traditions of the profession, which is dictated by the Hippocratic Oath.
But the JOHESU’s argument is that the post of a CMD is more of
administrative than that of doctors’ duties. So they are clamouring that
they should also be given that opportunity, what do you think about
this?
The headship of the hospital has to be doctors’ because doctors own the
patients and they know how every unit of the hospital operates.
Somebody that is going to head the hospital should have the overall
knowledge of how the human human beings operate. So, that is why in
terms of functionality, the chief executive has to be a doctor. It is only
then that there will be no excuse for negligence and ignorance. We expect
that as a condition that must operate in hospitals.
We are not the only professionals that operate such a system. In the
university, the academic staff become the Vice Chancellor and there is no
way a non-academic staff can aspire to become the Vice Chancellor. We
also have this system in court. At the Federal Court of Appeal, for
example, it is not possible for you to be a judge unless you are a lawyer.
So, why should they now think that in the hospital services, the medical
profession should not be the leader? We cannot allow that to operate.
Everybody knows that the doctor is trained to know what is happening in
every department of the hospital. The paramedics are supposed to assist
doctors in the aspect of diagnosis and treatment of patients. That is why
we always believe that the headship of hospitals must be medical doctors
and this has now even been accepted.
You cannot be appointed a consultant unless your degrees are registered
with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The system has now been
clearly steamlined and it is to ensure that the system becomes more
efficient and there is more accountability. Nobody is saying that other
medical professions cannot be made heads, but they cannot be held
accountable for those areas they do not know about.
By appointing paramedics as consultants, will this be an infraction on
medical ethics and the oath you took?
The Hippocratic Oath says ‘I will maintain the structure and noble
traditions of my profession.’ We must maintain that aspect and these are
the noble traditions of the profession. It is clear in this profession that
you cannot call yourself a consultant if you are not medically qualified.
Now, the word, medically qualified, is also another amorphous statement
because many people started calling themselves medically qualified.
The medically qualified are those that had finished as a medical doctor.
Some have gone ahead to have post graduate training for another five to
10 years to become what is called specialists. They are those appointed
consultants in any hospital. After attaining this level, for somebody else to
now be bearing that title without going through those trainings is not
proper. It is an impersonation and this will not be tolerated in the health
sector.
Inclusion of funds for residency training, is one of the things NMA is
asking for, why is this so?
Some aspects of the residency training are not well-funded. Originally,
resident doctors are supposed to go for one year training abroad to
acquire overseas training. Now, this has not been well-funded, leading to
a deficiency in the training. Overseas experience is very important in the
medical profession because surgery and medicine are international
disciplines and so trainees need to know what operates in other
countries. Other areas that require funding in the residency training
programme include examinations.
That is why there must be a template for residency training programme
that is operational all over the country. With this template, when you
start the programme, from the start you know what you are entitled to
and what you are not entitled to have. This must be spelt out in black
and white. Now, everything has been put in proper perspectives and there
will be a budget for the residency training programme that involves
overseas attachment.
NMA is insisting that there must be harmonised salaries for doctors at
all levels of governance. How practicable is this?
When you negotiate with government, you had negotiated with their
employer, including the state and local governments. And they are all
expected to comply with whatever the Federal Government is approving
for their doctors. Everything boils down to the same thing for all doctors,
irrespective of where they are all seeing patients. It is when some state
executives renege in terms of making it applicable to their doctors, that
occasionally, you have pockets of strike in some of the states.
People say that NMA is an association of professionals and not a trade
union and have no basis to go on strike, how do you defend this?
NMA is purely a professional organisation guided by the rules and
regulations of the Nigerian Medical Council. NMA has followed the
regulations that are prescribed by the act during industrial action. Most
of the things being asked for in the strike are professional in nature; its
main thrust is that we want sustainable sanity in patients’ care in our
hospitals established.
Sanity in the system means the relationship between one worker and the
other is normal; that a person’s job does not infringe on the rights of
others or the working conditions of the other. A situation where a medical
laboratory scientist or medical laboratory technologist drives a doctor out
of the office and beat him up, that is chaos. We cannot allow such a
situation to continue.
That is why we are asking the government to make sure that the hospital
should be a place where you work peacefully; patients get adequate
health care and in delivering adequate healthcare, everybody is happy.
That sustainable sanity is required by us to continue to serve the society
as we should.
Mind you, doctors are not interested in strike. Strike should not occur and
if it has to occur, it must follow the guidelines by the Medical and Dental
Council of Nigeria.
How do you defend the opinion that this strike is all about doctors’ ego
and pride and that they only want to have more than their rights?
There is nobody that does not have ego. Ego is what you feel about
yourself. Everybody must be proud of it ego. The problem we are having
is that some people are no longer proud of their profession. By saying
that doctors have ego, I think it is a complementary statement.
How happy are your members seeing patients dying?
We are also not happy with the situation and that is why we are pleading
that government should look into the demands of doctors. There are
some basic minimal demands that we expect the government to meet
and already, government is looking into them. Money is the least of the
conditions; clinical governance is the main issue. Clinical governance just
means how the hospitals are governed iand we want it in a way that it
will be of most benefit to patient care.
How soon will the strike be over?
Well, that is as soon as we can convey the delegate meeting, who will
consider all the things that government had done and then we will
consider calling off the strike. I cannot say exactly when this will be, but
I believe this will be very soon.
www.tribune.com.ng/your-health/item/12147-our-strike-not-about-money-ego-obembe-nma-president

otokx: It is alleged that doctors went away with the patients folder in UPTH so the nurses and others could not administer care.

My colleague who had just been operated by doctors had to be discharged home. When next you doctors are going on strike do well and leave the folders - it is also public property.

This is a blatant lie from d pit of hell, even if it really happened, I'm pretty sure it never would be intentional. What care wud d nurses even give if not to follow d orders of d same doctor documented in d folder..
Besides, d folder is mostly likely within d hospital inadvertently dropped somewhere by d doctor maybe after being taken for morning review, grand round etc.
Why would he take d folder away to deny a patient he operated on further treatment, nd if he wants to, it is very simple to do, he just wud discharge nd dts all. But of course u won't want to discharge a patient u just operated on.

All d NMA desires now is just a circular from d govt to attest to what has been earlier agreed on btw d two parties, I hope d FG won't come out denying any of these else problem escalates..
Govt and Management boards of hospitals also need to enact a law forbidding associations nd unions from locking up hospital properties nd running away wt d keys as d JOHESUites do when going on industrial actions.
If Johesu is going on strike, do it as d doctors do theirs ie take only ur personal belongings, handover d hospital properties to workers still on active duty and leave d hospital.

Public sympathy employed by JOHESU seems to be failing.
Anyway, I hope d govt responds before d week runs out so dt doctors can have time to meet again this week, suspend d strike nd begins work next Monday.

All d NMA now calls for to end d strike is just a secular release from the government to attest to what has been earlier agreed on, I hope d FG won't make any denial of these facts else d strike escalates...

Greetings from the National President, NOC and
delegates to the just concluded EDM. The EDM of the
Nigerian Medical Association took place on Saturday 26th
July, 2014 at Pauliham hotel, Gwarimpa, Abuja. On the
agenda was the update on NMA's open letter to the
government/minimum demands.
The meeting was well attended by all states and FCT delegates, with appology
from Bornu state due to the inability of the
delegates to get a flight from Maiduguri, 2 past presidents, viz; Dr. Stephen
KITCHENER, Dr. Idris OMEDE Immediate past Sec.
Gen. Dr. Pemu.
The meeting lasted over 12 hours with the house going on a 4hr recess for
delegates to put heads together for decisions to be
made on the way forward. Prior the recess, all state chairmen spoke for and
against whether the strike should be suspended or
not after the president read his opening/welcome address.
The welcome address was tagged; "RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN
PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS" www.medicalworldnigeria.com
This culminated in the open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the
federation (SGF) on 11th June, 2014.
Twenty four (24) point demands were itemised to be looked into by the
Government. This paper is meant to report on the
progress so far and chart the way forward:
1. Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC). The situation
update now is that the position has been restored and
circular issued to the effect. The conclusion of this circular is unambiguously
clear: "THE ESTABLISHED POSITION WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FILLED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS" HMH/ABJ/155/v
¡¡¡/3484.
2. On appointment of Directors, it was agreed that the Teaching Hospital Act
should not be violated; so status quo remains.
3. Skipping: The current status now is that 'Government has no objection to
Doctors skipping on CONMESS 3, the modalities of
its implementation will be submitted to NOC/negotiating team of NMA within 6
weeks, 4 weeks gone already, so in 2 weeks time
the modalities of implementation will be made available to NOC/negotiating
team.
4. Consultant: The circular on this has made it categorically clear that; "THE
DESIGNATION OF CONSULTANT SHOULD ONLY BE
USED FOR PERSONNEL WITH QUALIFICATIONS REGISTERABLE WITH MEDICAL
AND DENTAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA" MH/
PM"138/Vol.111/85, 18th July, 2014.
5. Relativity: The update on this is that the adjustment in salary was not
factored into 2014 budget. The Government position isthat this will be factored
into the 2015 budget and will take effect from January 2014. A sum for 2
months arrears is to be
released within 7 working days available as "index of commitment". There is no
pool of funds upon which to draw supplementary
budget; so say the budget office.
The MOU is as follows: "IMPLEMENTATION AND PAYMENT OF RELATIVITY
ARREARS ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 3, 2014 CIRCULARS, IT WAS
CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELATIVITY ARREARS
TOOK EFFECT FROM JANUARY 2014. FURTHERMORE, THE 2 MONTHS
ARREARS (JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2014) OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE PAID WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS WITH EFFECTIVE FROM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 , 2014.
IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE BALANCE OF TEN (10) MONTHS
ARREARS SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE 2015 APPROPRIATION ACT AND
PAID IN LUMP SUM".
6. The National Health Bill has been passed, currently undergoing harmonisation
by the two legislative houses for onward
passage to the presidency for accent.
7. Surgeon General of the Federation has been described as "desirable" and
should be pursued to the legislature. The NMA has
prepared a position paper on the issue. It is also in the pipeline that NMA
should establish a 'legislative' desk in the National Assembly.
8."THE STEP FOR HOUSE OFFICERS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE
EQUIVALENT OF CONHESS 9, STEP 4 AND MEDICAL OFFICER/REGISTRAR TO
CONMESS 2 STEP 3 AS WAS DONE FOR OTHER HEALTH WORKERS AT THEIR
ENTRY POINT" the circular to this effect has been received from the office of
the Head of Service.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
9. Clinical allowance,
10. Specialist allowance,
11. Hazard allowance,
The procedure for negotiation for the above 3 to be followed up with the Federal
Ministry of Health. NMA has submitted the
names of her negotiating team.
12. The circular on rural posting, teaching, and other allowances has been
released SWC/S/04/S176/T/73, of July, 2014.
13. Withdrawal of CBN circular on the importation of in vitro dianostics- Federal
Ministry of Health was given a deadline (1
month) to write the CBN on the issue and copy NMA. NMA team also honoured
an invitation from CBN, where they promised to
take action on our demand. Recently, we also visited NAFDAC where the DG
told us about his plan to visit the CBN.
The letter to the CBN has been written by the Federal Ministry of Health and
NMA has been copied -ref MH/PA/138/Vol 111/81.
14. Circular on retirement age: Report already completed by the 12 man
committee and to be made available within 2 weeks
(follow up is necessary). The committee is being hosted by Delta State
Government.
15. On Residency Training Programme: template has been released; "THE
PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO FORWARD THE
TEMPLATE FOR USE AT YOUR END AS GUIDE IN RESIDENCY TRAINING. THIS
DIRECTIVE IS IN TANDEM WITH POLICY AS
STIPULATED IN THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND
IN CONSONANCE WITH NATIONAL VISION". Ref.
No. C2262/38 18th July, 2014.
16. All outstanding claims pertaining to doctors in FMC Owerri have been paid.
17. Doctors have assured Government of our readiness to cope with the
challenges inherent in the progress of reintegration of
members back into IPPIS platform. The Government on her part has indicated
the willingness to commence immediately.
18. That circular that guarantees the right of house officers to be members of
lawful associations has been released.. "HOUSE
OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED FROM JOINING ANY ASSOCIATION
THAT ARE RECOGNISED BY LAW". Ref. No.
C2262T/264, 18th July, 2014.
19. Physical assault on Doctors by other health workers - All criminal actions
should be reported specifically and handled
according to the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).
20. Incomplete payment of salaries of doctors: Action to be taken by the
permanent Secretary, FMOH and the Director of Human
Resources and they are to report back to the government/NMA team at the
next meeting.
21. Universal applicability; the state/Local Governments can be reached through
persuasion, National Council on Establishment
matters, National Economic Council. Any of these channels shall be explored.
The NMA National will always rally support for
states in the implementation of the circulars.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
22. On Health Trust Fund, the NMA earlier proposal has been re activated.
"HEALTH AND HOSPITALS DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION FUND" other
interested partners are to join the programme.
23. The position of CMD remains sacrosanct and has not been compromised:
"THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR IT'S AGENCIES HAVE NO PLAN TO REPEAL
THE TEACHING HOSPITALS ACT, BUT NMA MUST
WATCH OUT FOR A PRIVATE BILL".
24. On the continued violation of the terms of the 2009 collective bargaining
agreement, it was decided that: "A LETTER
DIRECTING THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CONMESS AND
CONHESS CIRCULAR BE SENT TO ALL CMD's AND
MEDICAL DIRECTORS". This is to be followed up by the Government/NMA team
on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In conclusion, NMA circular on minimum end point says; "THE ISSUANCE OF
CIRCULARS ON THESE END POINTS FOR
RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN
HOSPITALS WILL END THE STRIKE".
It is hereby noted that all the 24 point demands have received positive
responses, and circulars have been issued as appropriate.
In summary, these demands are classified into 3 categories for action, viz;
immediate, middle, and long term.
Items 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 23 are under immediate action
with positive response from government.
Items 3, 8, 13, 14 and 24 are classified under middle term receiving actions from
government to be followed up by the NOC and
the negotiating team.www.medicalworldnigeria.com
Items 7, 9, 10, 11, 21, and 22 are classified under long term, also receiving
attention with close follow up by the NOC.
http://www.medicalworldnigeria.com/2014/07/situation-report-on-the-national-medical-association-emergency-delegates-meeting/#

massaging na job?
Africans nd their copy copy senses..

Just greed, they sud av closed the thing after abt 6months or they think d populace will be eternally fooled, or victims won't fight back?
Combination of smartness nd intelligence is needed even in fraudulent act ,its a pity these masterminders possessed just one of them..

I heard one pastor in Nigeria has abt three private jets, plz is ds true?
If true, plz are his followers crazy?

sogodihno: I av to disagree on one point sir: Medical is not restricted to doctors, because if it's restricted to doctors, den d word "medical doctor" will b tautology. Tanks

No, u got it wrong, d word 'medical' here is an adjective to differentiate MBBS holders from PhD holders.

When men of God's cars have flat tyres, do they just stay aside nd pray?
So y do they resolve to prayer nd start using unwarranted water or oils when they av health challenges?
The problem religion churches especially pose to d health sector in Nigeria is quite much also considering d fact dt many churches re now illegitimately turned to maternity centers.

craziebone: it is not a known FACT. It is a known error/stereotype/prejudice/apocrypha

It's obvious u re already brainwashed, even when ur Pope was busy sexually assaulting children, I'm sure u saw nothing wrong there too, na ''holy touch''.

DeoGratias1: There's way the entire christendom will refuse to marry

Even if there's no way d entire Christiandom will refuse to marry, I'm sure ur doctrine teaches u to believe dt not marrying is d most godly path...
I however pray for u in particular dt u will never be able to procreate. I expect an affirmative ''amen'' from a true follower of Jesus nd Paul as u claim to be.

DeoGratias1: And your married pastors don't abuse children? Why didn't marriage stop them from abusing children. A pedophile is a pedophile whether married or not

But it is also a known fact that sexual abuse is commoner among d sexually deprived, I just hope people start to reason straight. If the whole Christendom now decide to become ''holy'' nd refuse to get married nd procreate, what will become of d religion in decades to come.

No mind those people jare, denying themselves natural nd legitimate wonderful experience, it's a pity the instinct will always be there.
Catholic should just review their doctrines coz this very aspect is pure bullshit...

The only definitive solution available is using bosom implant. So u can go for dt if ur faith permits nd u
have d cash. Approach a plastic surgeon in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria here nd it will be done, no need for
journey overseas...

The only definitive solution available is using breast implant. So u can go for dt if ur faith permits nd u have d cash. Approach a plastic surgeon in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria here nd it will be done, no need for journey overseas...

LONDON – More than 50 Roman Catholic priests in England and Wales have been defrocked for sex abuse
since 2001, the Church’s child protection watchdog revealed on Thursday.
Some 52 priests have been laicized, or stripped of their ministry, the National Catholic Safeguarding
Commission (NCSC) said, following the implementation of new procedures to protect children and
vulnerable adults.
Between 2003 and 2013, 598 abuse allegations against the clergy were reported by dioceses and religious
congregations in England and Wales, of which 77 percent were related to sexual abuse, said the NCSC, an
independent body that works within the Church framework.
Officials accept that a reluctance to come forward may mean many more cases have gone unreported.
“Since 2002, we have automatically referred any allegation that comes forward, historic or current, to the
police,” NCSC chairman Danny Sullivan told AFP.
He said if a priest was convicted of abuse, then the local bishop would liaise with the Vatican over
removing the priest from his ministry.
If allegations do not result in a court case for any reason – for example if prosecutors feel the evidence
does not match the high threshold of criminal proof – then under the so-called covenants of care system,
“a priest may be under restricted ministry in quite a strict sense.”
“Church law allows for a lower level of proof. Their level of proof is simply: is there a semblance of truth?”
Sullivan said.
Under covenants of care, priests are “monitored and reviewed”, and may remain under the covenant for
years.
There were 384 covenants of care actively in place by the end of 2013 in England and Wales.
“If anybody comes forward with allegations, whether current allegations, or ones from the past, we will
automatically refer it to the statutory authorities,” Sullivan said.
The NCSC is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Church’s safeguarding policy for children
and vulnerable adults, and for monitoring compliance.
Majority Protestant Britain had largely escaped the major scandals over abuse in the Catholic Church seen
in neighboring Ireland and in the United States.
However, recent high-profile revelations about long-hidden child sexual abuse, chiefly in the entertainment
industry, has led to national soul-searching and a spike in alleged victims of historic abuse coming
forward.
newsinfo.inquirer.net/623258/more-than-50-uk-catholic-priests-defrocked-for-sex-abuse

Could Mr Bright Okogu please also let us know d sum amount our national legislators earn in a calendar year, nd then we see d ratio of their pay with other federal workers on payroll...

zaragoza: u can only get it from mobogenie for now

Tnx chief, got it.

xtervaganza: the thing no de work Jor

Really, are u using d app?

runzlord: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.max&hl=en

Tnx chief, but I have tried but couldn't download it from here. Any helpful tips to guide me through will do..

drered: So you'd rather kick them out to the streets than let them stay where they can get care even without you there? What version of the hippocratic oath did you take?

what part of d kidney do u use to reason
a. cortex b. medulla

hmm

killer bean
Scrabble

Could someone plz provide me a link to download opera max on my android?

Could someone plz provide me a link to download opera max on my android?

Could someone plz provide me a link to download opera max on my android?

Could someone plz provide me a link to download opera max on my android?

Could someone plz provide me a link to download opera max on my android?