The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Health professionals

  • Firms partner to drive jobs for Nigerian health professionals in US 

    Firms partner to drive jobs for Nigerian health professionals in US 

    A new collaboration between Immigify, a prominent immigration consultancy, and AfroHealth, a Google-supported digital health company, is providing approximately 250 Nigerian healthcare and nursing assistants with an opportunity to obtain employment in the United States.

    Emma Olorunsheyi, co-founder and CEO of Immigify, highlighted the increasing demand for skilled professionals within the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing the relevance of this initiative.

    He said the collaboration aims to provide interested Nigerians with pathways to career advancement, financial stability, and the chance to obtain a U.S. Green Card.

    “We’re streamlining the process for Nigerians who want to work in the U.S. healthcare sector,” Olorunsheyi said. 

    “This programme is designed for individuals with at least an O’level qualification and an interest in a healthcare career abroad.”

    He added that successful candidates will undergo a six-week training program to prepare for the U.S. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exams. 

    Once participants pass the exam, Immigify will manage their EB-3 visa applications, a visa category for skilled workers. 

    “With a nearly 100 per cent  approval rate, this visa allows candidates to live and work permanently in the U.S., with the entire process typically taking 12 to 24 months,” Olorunsheyi said.

    Beyond job placement, he emphasized the broader benefits, including international work experience, higher earning potential, and long-term security for participants and their families.

    Read Also: Oyo health professionals begin seven-day warning strike 

    Newly qualified nursing assistants can expect to earn between $20 and $40 per hour in the U.S. healthcare system.

    Olorunsheyi also expressed excitement about partnering with AfroHealth, noting that the programme  offers a rare opportunity for professional and personal growth. 

    He said: “Participants will receive support throughout the process, from visa applications to transitioning into life and work in the U.S.

    “With limited slots available, the programme  offers a valuable chance for Nigerians to pursue a new career path and secure a better future.”

  • Health professionals urge govt to maintain industrial peace

    The Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has condemned the killing of some members of the Nigeria Armed Forces in Bornu State.

    The body also urged the Federal Government to put up all necessary machineries to equip the armed forces to carry out their constitutional roles of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

    In a joint statement by the National President of the association, Comrade Obinna.C Ogbonna and National Secretary General, Comrade Oluwatuyi A Obisesan, the National  Administration Council (NAC) and National Executive Council (NEC) at its end-of-the-year meeting,  held at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital,  noted  with dismay the attitude of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for not accepting the recommendations of the tripartite committee submitted to Mr. President.

    NEC, therefore, appealed to Mr. President to transmit a Bill to the National Assembly to fast-track the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage to avoid national industrial crisis.

    The duo, in a statement made available to The Nation , also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to put machineries to conduct a free, fair and credible elections in place.

  • LUTH CMD urges health professionals to promote teamwork

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Prof. Chris Bode, has urged health professionals to promote teamwork, to ensure quality health care delivery.

    He addressed reporters yesterday at the 2018 Joint Graduation Ceremony and Presentation of Prizes of LUTH Schools in Lagos.

    Prof. Bode said: “In the health care system, everybody is important; the less we emphasise our differences, the better service we will deliver to our patients.

    “We should endeavour to always promote team spirit. It is those who benefit from the politics that actually emphasise differences.

    “I am a good surgeon, but I cannot be a good nurse. Should we then say a nurse or a pharmacist is not important?

    “An eye specialist needs an eye nurse; an ophthalmologist needs an ophthalmic nurse and a paediatric surgeon will need a paediatric surgical nurse.’’

    The guest of honour, Prof. Cecilia Igwillo, hailed LUTH management and tutors for producing specialised health professionals in the health care system.

    Igwillo, represented by Dr. Aderemi Williams, advised the graduating students to adopt good attitude and discipline that would portray them as an ambassador of the institution, as well as the nation.

    Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, LUTH chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), said 399 students graduated from the schools, which included the School of Nursing, School of Health Information Management and School of Medical Laboratory Science.

    Others are School of Midwifery, School of Community Health, Opthalmic School and School of Dental Health, amongst others.

     

     

  • Health professionals, workers protest against ministry’s leadership

    Health professionals, workers protest against ministry’s leadership

    THE Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU/AHPA) have passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole.

    The group prayed the Federal Government to restructure appointments at the ministry to balance the interest of the cadres of health professionals.

    According to JOHESU/AHPA, the body language of both the FMoH headed by Prof. Adewole and that of Minister of Labour and Employment has revealed their unwillingness to solve the problems inherent in giving other professionals in the health sector a sense of fairness and justice in the scheme of things.

    The body said the main reason for this is that the two ministers in charge of Ministry of Health were picked from the same profession.

    Dr. Osagie Ehanire is the Minister of State for Health and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is a renowned medical practitioner, whose ministry arbitrates all trade disputes, including those from the health sector.

    JOHESU/AHPA noted that their members’ situation is further worsened by the appointment of the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Amina Shamaki, who is also a medical doctor.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, the group said Prof. Adewole and his NMA colleagues have become the most formidable stumbling blocks to the career advancement plans of health professionals, especially as it affects the consultancy cadre.

    According to the unions, the composition of the leadership of the Ministry of Health has affected welfare of health professionals and workers.

    The workers mentioned the alleged assault of JOHESU leaders at Irua Specialists Hospital, Irua, Edo State by a medical doctor, who is the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital. It was alleged that he slapped the hospital’s branch Chairman of JOHESU against the existing Public Service Rules, adding that the case and others have not been redressed.

     

     

  • Health professionals begin indefinite strike

    Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) members have embarked on an indefinite strike.
    The strike, which was called by NUAHP executives yesterday, include members in tertiary health institutions, Federal Medical Centres and state owned institutions.
    Already, with the declaration of the nationwide strike yesterday, patients at the University College Hospital(UCH) have started groaning with the pains on the hardship the strike would bring on them.
    NUAHP membership, apart from medical practitioners and nurses includes professionals such as dietitians, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, optometrists, pharmacists, dental therapists, dental technologists, medical physicists, health information officers, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, medical social workers and others.
    Its National President, Comrade Dr. Ogbonna Obinna Chimela while addressing the reporters at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on the reasons for the indefinite strike, said the executives of the union called out on members to down tool because of the Federal Government’s alleged insensitivity to addressing some of the issues affecting their members, despite their staging warning strikes.
    Ogbonna said the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) had not seen any reason to address any of the issues positively nor communicate the resolutions of the high-powered meeting held on February 23, this year at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to the union.
    “The union had waited patiently and had shown enough restraints and had exhausted other industrial means because of the poor Nigerian masses, who will suffer when we withdraw our services from the health facilities nationwide. We have been pushed to the wall and this strike is inevitable.”