The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NMA

  • NMA calls for community-based NHIS

    NMA calls for community-based NHIS

     

    The Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi chapter, Dr. Kassim Oluwamayowa, has called on state and local governments to key into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for effective healthcare.

    Oluwamayowa told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lokoja, that the scheme had achieved tremendous success at the federal level but not at the local government level.

    The NMA chairman commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for introducing the scheme and urged successive governments to improve on it and ensure that the people at the grassroots level benefited from it.

    “The states and local governments have to get up and key into the scheme for us to have community-based NHIS.

    “If we have a well-functioning NHIS at all levels, our healthcare delivery in this country will definitely improve.

    “At present, the scheme has not achieved the full benefits which we hoped to derive from it because of its absence at the grassroots level,” he told NAN.

    On remuneration of doctors in the country, Oluwamayowa said statistics had shown that a lot of doctors trained in Nigeria had moved to other countries, in search of greener pastures.

    He pointed out that while their counterparts in the United Kingdom earned between N18 million and N25 million, doctors in Nigeria earned less than N5 million per annum.

    The NMA chairman said many general hospitals, clinics and comprehensive health centres in the state lacked adequate medical and health personnel.

     

  • ‘Hand washing will reduce mortality by 50%’

    ‘Hand washing will reduce mortality by 50%’

    Not less than 3.5 million under-five children die yearly due to preventable deaths from infections, among other causes, especially by poor hand hygiene. This, experts said, can be reduced by 50 per cent by washing the hands regularly with soap and clean water.

    According to the President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele, diarrhoea, typhoid fever, pneumonia and cholera, among other childhood killers can be prevented.

    Enabulele, who spoke at the launch of Reckitt Benckiser’s Dettol antiseptic soap in Lagos, said diseases are easily transmitted from the hand to mouth.

    The NMA President, represented by the Chairman, NMA Committee on Nigeria Medical Students Association (NIMSA) Affairs, Dr Martins Momoh said a lot of diseases can be prevented through a simple and easy step of washing hands with soap and water. “One child dies every 30 seconds from diarrhoea worldwide. Hand washing is among the most effective and least expensive way of stopping germs,” he added.

    He said about three million children across Nigeria have been taught to wash their hands with soap and water. “Research has shown that children develop habits in three weeks, so the company and NMA embarked on a 21 days campaign to instill hand washing morals into them.

    A laboratorian and Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mr Oyebanji Oyenuga, said the importance of disinfestations cannot be over-emphasised.

    “As a laboratory expert, you wash your hand in every procedure to ensure you prevent germs.I am happy the company is doing that to stop the epidemic. Cholera and diarrhoea among other diseases are transmitted through the hand.”

    Hand washing, he noted, will bring down the rate of pathologies. “Re-introducing this practice will improve overall health of the children and adults,” he added.

  • NMA to NAFDAC: Stop fraudulent herbal products’ adverts

    NMA to NAFDAC: Stop fraudulent herbal products’ adverts

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to review its regulation on advertisement of herbal products on the electronic and print media.
    The President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele made the call in Abuja in his paper entitled: ‘Effective leadership in eradicating fake and unwholesome drugs’ during a public presentation of a book, “Modern approach to food and drugs administration and control: NAFDAC success story”, written by Ms. Christabel Julie Okoye.
    According to him, the menace of fake and unwholesome drugs is caused by several factors and sustained by “a global network of very rich and influential clique.”
    He also pushed for stiffer sanctions and continuous publication of companies which have been blacklisted due to drug counterfeiting by NAFDAC.
    He said: “The menace of fake and unwholesome drugs and food products has remained a global concern since it first got global recognition at the World Health Organization Conference of Experts on Rational Drug use held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985.”
    “As it is well known, the menace of fake drugs which is fuelled by several factors, amongst which are the prevalent socio-economic and political situations in most countries, is sustained by a global network of very rich and influential clique.”
    According to him, fake and counterfeit drugs which first got on the ascendancy in the mid- 80s, is propelled by several factors which include, but not limited to poor socio-economic situation of Nigeria with over 70% of Nigerians still living on less than N154 per day and “the bug bear of corruption which impinges on the regulatory function of government agencies.”
    He maintained that all these factors amongst others have conspired to undermine the Health and Productivity of Nigerians as well as the economy of Nigeria.
    “This explains why some have described the menace as an evil bug bean and buga boo that must be conquered by the Collective efforts of Government and all Citizens of the World.”
    He went on: “I suggest review of the extant laws to provide for stiffer penalties for offenders. In this vein, I totally support the call by NAFDAC’s DG for life imprisonment for offenders, with no option of fine. There should be improved surveillance/monitoring by the Regulatory Agencies, including NDLEA and Standard Organization of Nigeria
    “There should be review of the tariff for registration of drug products to drive greater commitment to quality by drug importers; there should be publication of blacklisted companies and improved revenue base for NAFDAC to enable her establish offices in all states of Nigeria, as well as increase in the number of laboratories controlled by NAFDAC.”
    Other measures, he said, should include review of NAFDAC registration of herbal products and strengthening of NAFDAC’s regulation of advertisements of medical products.
  • NMA threatens strike

    NMA threatens strike

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to embark on a strike action if the Federal Government bowed to demands of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

    It said the demands of JOHESU which included skipping of CONHESS 10 by Allied Health Professionals were unjustifiable.

    The NMA noted that it was shocking and disappointing that members of JOHESU/Allied health professionals are demanding to continue in acts reminiscent of stealing from government by threatening and blackmailing government to allow them jump a whole grade level in the public service.

    A statement signed by NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said there was no “justifiable reason to warrant that immoral concession.”

    Dr. Enabulele said the federal government would have to elongate the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical/dental practitioners if it succumbed to JOHESU demands.

    It reads in part: “If government succumbs to this threat and blackmail by allowing the Allied Health Professionals under the aegis of an amorphous body to skip a grade level, then government must also allow skipping of grade level not just for doctors, but for the entire Federal Civil Service workforce.

    “In as much as we recognize the right of any group of workers to demand for improved conditions of service, we reject and oppose any form of blackmail, deceit, injustice, discrimination and practice that is against global best practices as currently being championed by JOHESU. We would not allow our patients to be hurt, deceived, confused or exploited.”