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Tag: Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)

  • NMA decries transfusion of unscreened blood

    NMA decries transfusion of unscreened blood

    The Zamfara State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has decried the administration of unscreened blood to patients in the state.

    The Secretary of the association, Dr. Mannir Bature, made the condemnation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Wednesday.

    “The association is disturbed over the increasing complaints of patients dying in hospitals and clinics across the state.

    “We followed it up by taking a tour of health facilities in the state and discovered that a large percentage of the people who lost their lives were those who underwent blood transfusion.”

    Bature attributed the problem to unqualified medical personnel performing blood transfusion when they were not supposed to do so.

    “Some health workers never waited to confirm whether or not the patients required blood before transfusing them.

    “Since there are inadequate blood screening equipment in many health facilities, some patients were either given the wrong blood type or blood that was infected with diseases.”

    Bature urged the state government to provide at least one blood screening centre in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

    According to him, at the moment, only the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau and the MSF Hospital in Anka have blood screening facilities.

    He also recommended that qualified personnel should lead the team of personnel screening blood so that the basic checks of HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis and Malaria would be conducted on all blood brought into hospitals.

    Bature said that the NMA would also ensure that blood cross match and save many lives in the state.

    The NMA secretary said that the association had already alerted the state government on the issue and made recommendations on how to stop the unethical trend.

  • NARD urges Kwara to raise awareness on CSM

    A medical practitioner, Dr Ige Kolawole, has urged the Kwara Government to raise awareness on the causes, symptoms and prevention of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    Kolawole, who is the President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), University of Ilorin Chapter, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday.

    According to him, there is low awareness about the disease in the state; as such the government needs to step up its awareness campaign on the disease.

    “The sensitisation programme has not been adequate, so there is need for more awareness so that people will be aware of everything about the disease.

    “The media is there, it is just that the government needs to use it so that the information will go round the state,” he emphasised.

    Kolawole assured that members of the association were ready to take on any emergency in the event of any outbreak of CSM in the state.

    He added that the association has distributed series of handbills to its members and would embark on a sensitisation walk during the week.

    Also, Dr Kunle Olawepo, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), advised the people to go to the hospital if they experience severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting.

    “Surveillance needs to be improved and people must as well ensure they see a doctor when they notice health problems,” he stressed.

     

  • Edo 2016: Obaseki unveils plans for health sector

    Edo 2016: Obaseki unveils plans for health sector

    The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the September 28, election, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, unveiled plans to make Edo the medical hub of the country.

    Obaseki who made this known at an interactive section with the chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), also noted that his health programme will be targeted at the poor in the state.

    He disclosed that the plan to make the state medical hub of the country, is to stop medical tourism.

    To achieve this, Obaseki said the five star hospital that have been built in the state capital will be equipped with the best medical equipment the world has to offer.

    He said his government, when elected, will build and equip specialised departments at the Central Hospital, Benin, for the treatment of ailment for which Nigerians seek  medical attention abroad.

    In addition, he said while experts on these field will be engaged, he also stressed that more medical personnel will be recruited for the various hospitals across the state.

    While promising to restore faith the health sector, he said the medical needs of the poor have been duly considered.

    According to him, “I will restore Faith in our Health sector and make Nigerians who seek health care abroad to come to Edo for their medical attention.

    “While government looks up to establishing standard hospital across the state, it is also the duty of government to subsidized medical services and health care for those who cannot afford such bills.

    “The less fortunate in the society will also enjoy the same quality services like every other individual in the rest of the world.”

    He however noted that the Oshiomhole led government of the state, had invested substantially, in the health sector.

    “What we have done basically, these past years, is to improve on the infrastructure of the government owned hospitals, as well as equipping some of them.

    “Now, while we will be focusing more on the human capacity building part of the health sector, we will also be fully equipping those that needed to be equipped with modern health facilities,” he said.

    Similarly, Obaseki also disclosed plans to build and equip emergency care centers at strategy locations across the state, to take of emergency cases, especially accident victims.

  • Force Hqtrs probes Ondo doctor’s death

    Force Hqtrs probes Ondo doctor’s death

    Nearly three months after the mysterious death of a one-time chairman of the Ondo state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. David Oguntuase, the Police High Command in Abuja has taken over investigations into his death. DAMISI OJO reports.

    The Force headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Abuja have taken over investigations into the mysterious death of the former Chairman of the Ondo State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association,(NMA) Dr David Oguntuase .

    Oguntuase, a pediatrician and Head of Pediatrics department at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, was burnt to death in a mysterious circumstance on Christmas eve last year at his private clinic, Universal Medical Centre (UMC), Akure, the Ondo State capital. His body was laid to rest penultimate weekend.

    The Ondo State Commissioner of Police Mr. Isaac Eke, who disclosed the new course of investigation said the command handed over the case to Force Headquarters to ensure proper investigation.

    The Police boss, who noted that the command handled the matter with high level ofprofessionalism while handling the case, said the force headquarters had commenced investigations on the matter.

    Various interest groups including the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have called for a thorough investigation of Oguntuase’s death.

    However, the Commissioner stressed that the Police would get to the root of the case and ensure that those found culpable were dealt with.

    He warned criminals operating in Ondo state to move out of the state as the Police are prepared to fish them out and ensure that the state remains safe to live for all and sundry.

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Medical association in the state has confirmed that it had gotten a preliminary autopsy report on what led to the death of their former leader.

    But the Chairman of the Association Dr Bamidele Betiku said the body is not too anxious to disclose the cause of Oguntuase’s death to the public until after completion of the full investigation.

    There had been controversies over the cause of the death of the former Head of Pediatrics at FMC, Owo since his body was found severely burnt inside a room in his hospital.

    Family sources are alleging that the deceased was killed and later burnt to give a semblance of a fire incident, while others linked his death to electric power surge that sparked the fire that later burnt him.