The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Medical Association

  • Meningitis: Akwa Ibom Govt on red alert

     

    The Akwa Ibom Government says it has placed medical and health works on red alert to forestall any possible outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in the state.

    The State Epidemiologist, Dr Aniekeme Uwah, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Thursday.

    He said that government had urged surveillance officers to increase their surveillance by going through hospital records to check any incidence of the disease.

    Uwah, who is also the state Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, said that officers had been mandated to investigate any rumour of the disease.

    He said that this would give officers the true position of things for them to be on the look-out.

    Uwah said that the Ministry of Health had also concluded plans to retrain medical personnel in order to increase their index of suspicion.

    He said that government was making contacts to get the needed kits for tests and diagnosis.

    Uwah said at the moment there had been no reported case of meningitis in the state.

    “There has been no reported case of meningitis in the state. Case management strategy has been put in place and we have an isolation centre in Ikot Ekpene to take care in case of emergency,’’ Uwah said.

    He advised residents to be conscious of the fact that there was an outbreak of meningitis in the country.

    Uwah cautioned the people against travelling to states with confirmed cases of the outbreak.

    Uwah said the symptoms of the disease include severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, among others.

    He advised the people to avoid overcrowded rooms, non-ventilated areas and to exercise good personal hygiene.

    Besides, Uwah urged the people not to stay close to confirmed cases of meningitis and to get vaccinated against the disease.

     

  • Grief in Ekiti as bodies of dead doctors arrive

    Grief in Ekiti as bodies of dead doctors arrive

    There was grief in the air Tuesday evening as the bodies of six medical doctors and their driver from Ekiti State who died along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway arrived Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    They were on their way to the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto but met their untimely death in an auto crash.

    The remains of the dead and their colleagues who survived the accident were conveyed to the state in seven ambulances and were received by Governor Ayo Fayose and other senior government officials.

    The six doctors were Tunde Aladesanmi of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI); Ojo Taiwo of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH); NMA Secretary, Akinyele Alex;  J.  Ogunseye of the Hospitals Management Board; President, EKSUTH branch of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Olajide, Dr Adeniyi James of the FETHI and their driver, Moses Ajibola.

    The convoy of ambulances arrived Ado Ekiti at about 6.30 pm and was accompanied by security men including policemen, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, civil defense ans Department of State Service.

    The train moved slowly through the city and headed for EKSUTH along Adebayo area where they were deposited in the mortuary.

    Six survivors of the accident, including the state chairman of the NMA, Dr. John Akinbote, who were clad in black dresses, accompanied the ambulances who came by road in a convoy of cars.

    Tears flowed freely as some residents who learnt of the arrival of the bodies wept openly on the streets while family members and relations of the victims rolled on the ground and wee inconsolable.

    Fayose who also wore black was joined by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola to receive the bodies at Fajuyi Park from where the ambulances moved to the EKSUTH morgue.

    There was a huge traffic hold-up between Fajuyi Park and EKSUTH as Fayose and his team joined the procession to the hospital to witness the depositing of the bodies in the morgue.

    Fayose, who spoke to journalists, promised to immortalise the doctors and assist their families.

    EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, said the corpses were being deposited at the morgue to enable their families be able to identify them in preparation for their funerals.

    It was gathered that the families of one of the victims, Dr  Aladesanmi, had concluded arrangement to bury his remains on Wednesday.

     

     

  • Buhari urges doctors to shelve planned strike

    Buhari urges doctors to shelve planned strike

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to shelve its proposed strike and give the Federal Government more time to address the grievances of doctors.

    He made the call at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), at the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, gave the doctors an assurance that no agreements duly entered into by the Federal Government will be dishonoured by his administration.

    He called for greater understanding and support from doctors and all Nigerians in view of the present short fall in national revenue brought about by the decline of crude oil prices.

    The President decried the adverse impact of the fall in oil prices on the Federal Government’s spending plans for health and other sectors and said that his administration will continue to do its best to address issues that are of concern to doctors and other Nigerians.

    The President also gave the NMA delegation an insight into his administration’s plan to establish 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country in the next two years with the objective of providing better healthcare for about 100 million Nigerians.

    He also told the delegation led by NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe that the National Health Act will soon be gazetted and a steering committee appointed to oversee its implementation.

    The Minister of Health , Prof. Isaac Adewole described the plan to establish more healthcare centres as “the single most ambitious health plan for the poor in the history of Nigeria”.

    In his remarks at the meeting, Dr. Obembe called for the implementation of the report of the Yayale Ahmed Committee on better relations among  professional groups in the health sector.

    He also called for fast-tracking of the implementation of the National Health Act.

    At a separate meeting with the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), President Buhari promised that his administration will evolve and implement measures to curb friction and disharmony among the professional groups in the health sector.

    The President urged the PSN to work more closely with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to curb the sale of fake medicines in the country.

    The President of the PSN, Ahmed Ibrahim  Yakasai assured President Buhari that pharmacists in Nigeria were ready to work in harmony with other professionals in the health sector to help the Federal Government achieve its objective of improving healthcare services in the country.

  • 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.”

  • Photo: Doctors strike across Nigeria

    Photo: Doctors strike across Nigeria

  • Varsity inducts doctors, dentists

    Varsity inducts doctors, dentists

    The vision of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is to become a formidable professional body committed to fostering effective and efficient health care delivery with high ethical standards and protecting the interest of its members.

    This was a dream come true for the 201 newly inducted medical students at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    Despite the heavy downpour, Academicians, parents, wellwishers and students thronged the Amphi Theatre, venue of the induction.

    A release by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the college, since inception, had graduated over 3400 doctors and dentists. This year’s ceremony which was the 31st professional induction, was not without the torturous and discouraging sides; one of the graduating students, Mr. Oyelami Ifedayo died three months ago while some of them repeated severally. One of the lecturers, Prof. Otas Ukponmwan also died three months ago.

    The provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof. Solomon Ogunniyi, while congratulating the new doctors and dentists who ‘are graduating at a time the university and the college are celebrating 50th and 40th anniversaries respectively, charged them to maintain links with their alma mater and strive to keep the flags of the college and the university flying wherever they are.

    He expressed gratitude to the new doctors and dentists for the ongoing construction work on the 500 seater lecture theatre and four seminar rooms within the teaching hospital premises. He did not fail to acknowledge the 40 microscopes which the university supplied to the college while praising the teaching hospital management for providing the building which is being used as a medical library.

    ‘’Lastly, to my young colleagues, you should be aware that you have responsibility to our country; to use the knowledge and skills that you have acquired for the advancement of our country and to set good examples of moral behaviour’’, said the provost.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole in his address advised the inductees to use their acquired skills for the advancement of the country’s health system.

    He said their patients, relations and loved ones must be treated with consideration and in humane way. He added that appropriate explanation and kind words of encouragement can make a big difference.

    In his submission, the Chairman of the state NMA, Dr. Onipede, said he was delighted with them as they have passed through the ‘crucible of fire’ which the medical programme epitomizes with the many challenges, obstacles, hills and valleys that you had to contend with right from the time the dream of becoming a physician awoke in you to the point of your University Matriculation Examination (UME), screening, multiple examinations as an undergraduate and to this very moment of your induction (UME).

    “In striving to become the best physician you can be protect and promote the good name of your parents. In return, your parents and families can take great delight in your accomplishments and progress which will bring them joy, happiness and pride. You also will benefit when you exert yourself to be the best physician you can in that you envelope yourself with the prayers, gratitude and love for those human beings who are permitted to cross your path in this earth as your patients’’, he charged.