The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Health workers

  • NMA spur for war with other allied health workers

    NMA spur for war with other allied health workers

    The supremacy battle between the medical practitioners and other health workers seems to be degenerating.

    Doctors and dentists have vowed to reject any laboratory results not reviewed and interpreted by pathologists.

    Pathology and medical laboratory science professions are related but the job descriptions, training and responsibilities differ.

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in statement signed by its president and Secretary, Dr. Kayode Obembe and Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki respectively NMA will not tolerate any encroachment in any medical or dental arena as no doctor or dentist will submit his/her practice to any other health professional regulatory body other than the MDCN and the relevant state ministries of health.

    They therefore stated, “Doctors and dentists are hereby cautioned against using pathology services laboratory results not reviewed, interpreted and reported by pathologists thus guaranteeing reliability, safety and assuming responsibility for outcome of use.

    “Laboratories that do not have permanent or visiting pathologists are to be avoided as much as possible in the interest of patients and the public as quality and safety can hardly be guaranteed. The same applies to Radiology where there are no Radiologists.”

    NMA explained that “It’s only the pathologists that have the training and mandate to situate and connect the biological samples and the patient.”

    The doctors also suggested that “this is the time for the National Assembly to hold joint probes into what has shattered the peace of the public health sector.”

    NMA in its statement also called for reconstitution of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria “so that appropriate regulatory activities can be effectively executed in line with the legal provisions, and malpractices and other breaches of its Codes of Ethics sanctioned accordingly.”

  • Health workers vow to cripple public hospitals

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have vowed to cripple activities in Federal Government health facilities.

    JOHESU gave a 15-day ultimatum, from February 3, 2016, to resume its strike if its 10-point demand is not met.

    The ultimatum expires on Wednesday and the group threatened to continue the strike.

    A copy of the associations’ warning, addressed to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation and some security agencies, was signed by JOHESU’s Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah.

    It noted that unless government meets its demand, it will resume the suspended strike.

    The unions decried the neglect of its members, which contribute 95 per cent of health care providers.

    This is the first time the unions would threaten strike since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power last May.

    JOHESU seeks, among others, implementation of a new circular on promotion from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors, “which places premium on the need to sanction defaulting hospital managements”.

  • Bird Flu: Adamawa deploys veterinary, health workers on surveillance

    Bird Flu: Adamawa deploys veterinary, health workers on surveillance

    The Adamawa Government on Monday announced the deployment of veterinary, health and environmental workers to avian influenza affected areas.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this follows the reported outbreak of bird flu in some parts of the state.

    The state Director, Ministry of Livestock Production, Dr Abdurrahman Tukur, mad this known to the NAN in Yola.

    Tukur explained that the deployment was to quickly eradicate and prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the state.

    “Since the outbreak of the disease last week, the state government has intensified surveillance, while several veterinary, health and environment workers have been deployed.

    “The officers were deployed to the affected areas while some have mounted check points on major roads in the state to monitor the movement of birds and other related animals,” said the director.

    He expressed happiness that since the outbreak last week, there had been no further report of the spread of the disease in the state.

    However, he urged the people of the state to be vigilant and report any case of suspected bird illness to the nearest veterinary outpost for immediate action.

     

  • Lassa fever: Remain alert, FCT minister charges health workers

    Lassa fever: Remain alert, FCT minister charges health workers

    FCT Minister Muhammad Bello has charged medical and health workers to remain on red alert to nip in the bud any suspected case of Lassa fever.

    Bello gave the directive in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Mr Hamzat Sule, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The statement said that the directive was a follow up to earlier tips on how to prevent the spread of the disease.

    It recalled that the lone case in the territory was that of a man on transit.

    “But the FCT Administration will not leave anything to chance on the lives and well-being of all the residents and visitors, as this is paramount to this administration.’’

    The minister, therefore, directed the FCT Disease Control and Disease Surveillance Department to endeavour to be on top of any eventuality that might arise.

    The statement said that he also instructed the Notification Officers in all the six area councils to be on high alert by stepping up disease surveillance activities within their various localities, especially at the border communities.

    He emphasised that all the nooks and crannies of the 8,000 sq. kms. of the territory must be well policed, to deal with any case at a very short notice.

    “The Heads of Health Departments in the area councils are equally directed to further step up sensitisation activities in the communities – markets, motor parks, churches and mosques,” the statement added.

    Bello further urged the health workers to be proactive in their approach in order to avoid the unfortunate incident that led to the death of the transit victim.

    The statement said that the minister also adviced residents of the territory to imbibe the habit of a clean environment, to ward off all rodents from their houses.

    “Hygienic practices will go a long way in curbing not only Lassa fever but also other diseases associated with dirty environment,” the statement said

     

  • Health union rules out industrial action

    Health union rules out industrial action

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) says it will not embark on another strike but will give government enough time to address its demands.

    Chairman of the union, Mr Ibrahim Attai disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    Atai, who was speaking on the called-off strike by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’ workers, said the effects of the strike on the nation were better imagined.

    “We will give government more time to resolve all our grievances, we believe in the government’s ability to this.

    “We cannot afford to go on another strike because last time we went on strike the agency lost substantial amount of revenue.

    “Going on another full strike would give room for unscrupulous people to perpetrate their evil acts, bringing in all manner of adulterated products into the country.

    “NAFDAC workers had been ordered to return to work and be law abiding. Our services are critical to the Nation’s economy and health,’’ he said

    NAN reports that the union had earlier called on their members to return to work on Friday after embarking on seven days warning strike.

  • Health workers: why isn’t local gin ban enforced?

    Health workers: why isn’t local gin ban enforced?

    Health experts and other stakeholders have expr-essed worry over the non-enforcement of the ban on locally made gin, otherwise known as ‘ogogoro or kai-kai’, which was reported to have killed scores of consumers in Ondo and Rivers states.

    According to a group of nutritionists and Public Health Safety Practitioners, the incident in Rivers State has not served as a deterrent to the production or consumption of ‘ogogoro’ because of the inability of the relevant authorities to enforce the ban on the killer drinks.

    In a statement issued by the leader of the group, Chief Simeon Adahni, “the inability of relevant authorities in Rivers and Ondo states to enforce the ban on these locally made gins is a serious threat to the lives and health of Nigerians. For instance the “ogogoro” as it is popularly known has infiltrated Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other states close to Rivers and if nothing is done to check this trend, many innocent Nigerians will die.

    “It is still unimaginable that you can still find these killer substances being sold openly in Rivers State after the tragedy despite the ban of the sale and consumption by government. Another place of major concern is the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State, where ‘ogogoro is consumed in very high quantity. The Rivers state government particularly seems to lack the political will to enforce the ban”.

    He disclosed that ogogoro contains high volume of methanol which he said is “very harmful to the body especially the liver”.

    In his words, “the nationwide ban on the consumption of this locally made gin will remain a wild goose chase, except if there is proper enforcement. We still wonder how these banned substances still find their ways to the market, where they are sold and consumed in public. Our advise is that all relevant government authorities should step up action on the ban to forestall a repeat of the Rivers and Ondo tragedy.

    “Apart from the recent deaths caused by the consumption of ‘ogogoro’ in Rivers, Ondo, as well as Cross River states, these killer gins have been in the markets and all parts of the country for decades and enjoy high rate of consumption among ignorant Nigerians who risk premature death as a result.

    “We are also worried that regulatory bodies like NAFDAC is not doing much to rid the country of these locally made gins, which have continued to cause the death of Nigerians. We are not talking about the registered companies that distil gins in line with global best practices but we are concerned with those who go to the market and buy gallons of ethanol or methanol and go to their backyard and prepare the concoction they call ‘ogogoro or kai kai’.

    “The worst part of it is that this the people keep consuming these killer drinks, despite the obvious health hazards, while the government is doing nothing about it”.

  • Health workers protest non-payment of arrears

    Health workers protest non-payment of arrears

    WORKERS of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos have given management up till Tuesday to meet their demands or face a strike.

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday accused the management of not paying their promotional arrears for three years.

    JOHESU chairman Shehu Sulaimon told reporters after the workers’ protest on the hospital premises that many are scared of using the hospital because of its decaying infrastructure and rise in service charge.

    Sulaimon called for improved staff welfare, saying workers’ morale was low because of some steps taken by the management.

    ‘’It has been a protracted issue that we have been discussing with our management.

    “For instance, they have not done anything about the promotion arrears which have not been paid and only God knows the reason.

    “We heard that other FMCs have collected their arrears and the budget office at the Ministry of Finance confirmed that our centre is not being owed promotion arrears. It means that our hospital has collected the arrears just like FMC Owerri too, yet we have not been paid. Where is the money?

    “We gave the management 14 days ultimatum that elapsed without doing anything; we gave another seven-day ultimatum and our Managing Director decided to travel out during this period. I wonder how the head of a house would travel while his house is on fire,” Sulaimon said.

    He enjoined the management of the hospital to upgrade the equipment in the hospital to make the hospital attractive to the public.

    Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FMC, Ebute Meta chapter, Mrs Blessing Israel, said the use of outdated equipment was affecting internally generated revenue because of the dwindling number of patients.

    “The equipment are outdated and with outdated equipment, you cannot really work efficiently. We need new equipment; light is nothing to write home about; patients scream at night because they are always in the dark throughout the night; the members of staff are not encouraged to give their best due to poor welfarism. The generating set is very old and not functioning well.

    “The tariff is very high and because of this, we are not really having patients, if the tariff should come down, patients will come and we will be happy to work. We don’t want to be made redundant; let them bring down the charges,” Israel said.

    Medical and Health Union Chairman, FMC, Ebute Meta chapter, Mr Julius Achonwa, said the workers were being treated like second-class citizens.

    He said: “Can you imagine you can’t speak your local language to any patient here; you get query for doing so – my mother tongue? How do you communicate with a patient who doesn’t understand English language?

    “One pathetic aspect of our case was when one of our staff died, the management sent people to attend the burial. On their way back, the bus had an accident; one died and some were taken to the nearest hospitals, but many of the injured ones were brought here. The management refused to pay the medical bills of those treated here. Those that used their money for the treatment are yet to collect refund from the management.”

    According to him, no staff has gone on training in the last four years.

    “We are here dying silently; we are begging the government to come to our rescue and if care is not taken, this place will die a natural death,” he said.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the hospital’s Medical Director, Mrs Yewande Jinadu, when contacted on phone, said she was on leave and was outside the country.

    Mr Emmanuel Okone, Director, Administration and Human Resources, when contacted, declined comment. “You are talking to the wrong person on this issue,” he said.

  • Health workers suspend three-week strike

    Health workers suspend three-week strike

    Health workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Allied Healthcare Professionals (NUAHP) have suspended their three-week strike, ordering resumption of work.

    NUAHP members include physiotherapists, radiographers, dentists, radiologists, medical laboratory scientists, dieticians, pharmacists and others.

    The strike, which started on May 18, crippled the nation’s health sector.

    NUAHP National President Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, who called on members to return to work today, said the National Administrative Council of the union on June 4, after assessing the impact of the strike through responses from its branches, agreed that it was effective nationwide.

    Dr. Ogbonna added that strike drew the attention of President Buhari to the pending issues in the sector that the immediate past government left unresolved

    NUAHP National President, who agreed that the union is yet to achieve all the demands that necessitated the strike, explained that the union’s leaders decided to suspend the strike in honour of Buhari.

    He added that the union gave the new government till July, to resolve the crisis affecting the health sector.

    He said: “The strike should be suspended in honour of the newly elected government of President Buhari. The union is giving the government till July, starting from today, June 9, to see that issues under contention are dispensed with without further delay.

    “The union also calls on Mr. President to intervene in the crisis in the health sector where medical practitioners are oppressing other health professionals through the instrumentality of the Ministry of Health/Chief Medical Director, who flagrantly refuse to implement court judgments, collectively bargained agreements and promotions of stagnated members of our union according to scheme of service approved by government.”

    Dr. Ogbonna, who addressed reporters with the union’s immediate past president, Dr. Felix Faniran and other executive members at the UCH branch, hailed his colleagues for their patience, tenacity and cooperation throughout the period of the strike.

    He assured them that nobody would be victimised as a result of participating in the strike.

    He also lauded the resilient of the union at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri in the face of intimidation, blackmail and threat by the Federal Medical Centre management and Federal Ministry of Health officials.

    He directed that the strike in FMC Owerri should continue until justice is done to all the local issues and demands.

  • Institute trains health workers on nutrition

    Institute trains health workers on nutrition

    Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA) has trained 50 paramedics on nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life.

    The paramedics, according to NNIA, were drawn from Anglophone countries of Central and West Africa.

    Tagged ‘The International Course in Applied Nutrition’ the course was organised by the NNIA for those between ages 18 and 21. It has as theme The First 1000 days of life: Early nutrition and long term health.

    The company assured of its commitment to provide educational programmes for good nutrition, feeding practices and helping healthcare professionals to have a greater impact on the dietary aspects of care of future generations.

    Category Manager, Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Nigeria, Rizwan Yousuf, said his organisation was convinced that good maternal nutrition during pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months is the best to ensure a good start in life.

    He said children who receive good nutrition in their first 1000 days are 10 times more likely to resist the most common life-threatening childhood diseases.

    “They will complete more than four more grades at school and earn 21 per cent more wages as adults,” he said.

    Yousuf said they would also have happier and healthier families as adults and contribute positively to the economic growth of the nation.

     

  • LP: Health workers strike to frustrate Nigerians

    LP: Health workers strike to frustrate Nigerians

    The Labour Party (LP) has condemned the current indefinite strike declared by health workers under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Allied Health professionals (NUAHP).

    The party said the industrial action started on May 19 across the country was not “not well timed and out to frustrate the ordinary Nigerians who use the public health facilities more.”

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister (Mrs.) Ebere Ifendu, in Abuja, the Labour Party appealed to the striking workers to shelve the exercise because of the approaching handover.

    The party told the health practitioners it would not be out place to wait for the incoming administration to settle down fast before bringing up their outstanding demands, especially since governance is a continuum.