The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NMA

  • ‘Private clinic where baby died not registered’

    HJ CLAIROOWEN Medical Centre and Maternity in Egbeda where 15-month-old Taye died on Sunday during a blood transfusion is not registered, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.

    Officials at the State Ministry of Health told our Correspondent that the details of the hospital could not be found in the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA). HJ CLAIROOWEN situated at 10, Busari Street became embroiled in scandal following the death of the twin girl, whose parents alleged that she was infused blood without screening.

    The child’s father, Adeola Adetunji had accused a paediatrician at Igando General Hospital identified simply as Dr. Joy of luring his wife from the government hospital to her private clinic on Sunday night where his daughter died due to negligence.

    At the state secretariat Alausa, it was gathered that Health Commissioner Dr. Jide Idris had directed HEFAMAA, the Hospital Service Commission (HSC) and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health to get to the root of the case.

    It was gathered that the doctor might be dismissed for breaching the rules of engagement at the government hospital since it was unacceptable to refer a patient from public to private hospital.

    “There are too many issues involved here. It was an offence for the doctor to refer the patient to a private clinic. What the rule says is that if there is need for referral, such patient should be referred to another government facility that had the ability to manage the particular case.

    “I am a civil servant and cannot speak to you officially but I can tell you that heads will roll over this issue. The report will be submitted to the Commissioner and he is the one to talk to you on it,” said a source who craved anonymity.

    An official of the agency who contacted our Correspondent for details on the issue said HEFAMAA agents were already deployed to the area for investigation.

    She stated that there were certain standards that must be met before any hospital or clinic is approved by the agency, adding that if the logo or symbol of HEFEMAA was not engraved in the hospital, then it was not a recognised place.

    Read also: ‘How doctor’s shady practice caused me my 15-month-old baby’

    “I can tell you that serious investigation is going on. The Honourable Commissioner is interested in this case and has directed comprehensive findings. Be assured that nothing will be covered.

    “When you first told me the name of the hospital, I went to HEFAMAA office and they checked their system but it is not there. Now that we have the correct spelling, I have also given it to them. They are investigating.

    “One thing is certain, if it is a registered or approved centre, it will have HEFAMAA logo. Once the logo isn’t there, then, it is not a registered or recognised place,” she said.

    The woman also requested for the mobile number of the bereaved family so that they could be contacted, which our Correspondent availed her.

    Already, the Child Protection Network (CPN) and the Public Advice Centre (PAC) have reached out to the bereaved family and pledged to help them get justice.

    Similarly, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had commiserated with the bereaved family, empathising with them in their moment of grieve.

    NMA President Franscis Fadule stated this during a phone conversation with our Correspondent Wednesday evening.

    Asked what the association was doing in respect of the issue, Fadule said NMA would await the outcome of the findings by the Lagos State Government which would be forwarded to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

    According to him, the allegations against the doctor were not just on alleged professional misconduct, as two of them fell within the purview of the state government to probe.

    He said: “If the doctor had erred, it could either be professional misconduct or that she treated wrongly. The doctor is employed by the state and the state has its own process of dealing with anyone who has gone against their rules of engagement. I know the state has set up an investigative panel to deal with that.

    “If she transfused a blood that is not cross-matched, then, that is against professional ethics and the NMA will take action after the investigation by the state government.

    “Thirdly is the registration of the private clinic. That one is totally within the purview of the Lagos State Government under the HEFAMAA and they have a process to deal with that.

    “Two of the processes have the state government to look into. After the findings by the government, it will go to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and once the doctor is found culpable, she will face the disciplinary tribunal which is at the stage of a Federal High Court and pronouncement will be made. Those are the ways the medical professional checks practitioners.

    “I want to use this opportunity to commiserate with the family of the deceased. As NMA, we feel pained that one of the twins has died. NMA stands for professionalism. We shall make our stand known and we shall proffer ways of dealing with such situations after receiving the report of the investigation that has been set up.”

    Contacted, Dr. Idris told our Correspondent he would revert back today (Thursday) after he must have seen the report of the investigation.

  • NMA urges Fed Govt to raise awareness on cancer

    THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to raise awareness on cancer prevention, as Nigeria joins the rest of the globe to celebrate World Cancer Day,.

    Besides, NMA urged the government to include cancer control and treatment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) programme.

    Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018.

    Nigeria has an estimated 115,950 new cases of cancer and an estimated 70,327 cancer death in 2018.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman, NMA FCT Chapter, Dr. Philip Ekpe, said the high rate of death attributed to cancer was alarming and called for urgent attention.

    He said cancer is now “the second  leading cause of the death in the world,  accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018.”

    “The World Health Organisation estimated that there were  18.1million new case in 2018, which was a significant increase  of about 4 million case compared to last estimate of 14.1 million new cases in 2012. It is estimated  that one in every five men and one in every six women  develop cancer globally. This is a very worrying trend and we must all rise up to curb this menace.

    “Africa is estimated to have about 5.8 per cent of the new cases, but a disproportionately higher 7.3 per cent of cancer prevention, poor attitude for cancer screening and early detection, inadequate  treatment facilities and higher incidence of cancer types with poor outcome. Nigeria has an estimated 115,950 new cases of cancer and an estimated 70,327 cancer death in 2018.”

    He lamented that “cancer death in our country  is still  one of the worst in Africa and this requires urged attention”

  • Kogi approves immediate recruitment of doctors

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has granted express approval to the Governing Boards of Kogi State Hospitals Management Board (KSHMB) and Kogi Specialist Hospital, Lokoja (KSSH) to employ more doctors.

    Dr Haruna Saka, Kogi Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Friday in Lokoja while reacting to the exit of some doctors from the state’s civil service over the past three years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the governor to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The Kogi NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair, said over 88 medical doctors had left the state public service under the current administration.

    The commissioner however said that the doctors left because they secured Post Graduate training in Federal Government’s teaching hospitals, adding that the bulk of them were those recently employed by the state.

    “Majority of them had passed the primary examination of the National Postgraduate Medical College and West African Postgraduate College.

    “So ab initio, we never expected them to stay for long before commencing their training.

    “It has been a recurring trend to see doctors leave state public service once federal government opportunity presents itself such as lift of ban on employment of resident doctors.

    “Doctors who have intention of undergoing postgraduate training usually migrate towards federal service because till date, only very few states have the capacity to train resident doctors.

    “To make working condition conducive for doctors in Kogi, the government has taken further measures by giving approval to the state specialist hospital to commence internship training for doctors.

    “The specialist hospital will also acquire capacity to train Resident Doctors with immediate effect,” Saka said.

    The commissioner added that the governor had also approved welfare packages for new doctors, including interest free loan facilities to help them acclimatise when they come in.

    He further said that the governor had approved an arrangement for doctors in federal institutions in Kogi to also provide services in state health facilities that were understaffed.

  • 88 doctors quit civil service – NMA

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The association made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday by the state NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair.

    This followed the exit of 88 medical doctors from the state public service.

    The association however felicitated with the governor on the celebration of his third year anniversary in office and for making healthcare one of his five thematic areas.

    According to Zubair, “Under this administration, a total of 88 doctors have left the Kogi Civil Service; previously, 79 doctors left plus another nine who had succeeded in securing new employment recently.

    “Doctors and other healthcare workers remained the drivers of healthcare delivery anywhere in the world.
    “Steps such as the payment of outstanding salary arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, implementation of the corrected CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others, are needed to reverse this unfortunate trend.

    Read Also: LASUTH resident doctors begin warning strike Jan 28

    “As you commence your fourth year in office, the NMA as the custodian of the health of the people is ready and willing to partner with state government to improve the health sector in Kogi.’’

    Zubair said that the association equally felicitated with the Deputy Governor, the SSG, the Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health Matters and the entire cabinet members for sustaining the progress made thus far.

    NAN recalls that Bello was sworn-in as the fourth civilian governor of Kogi by the satte Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Jan. 27, 2016.

    Zubair, however, commended the state government and Bello for some positive steps the government had taken in repositioning the health sector in the state.

  • PDP will reverse ‘this baggage economy’, says Peter Obi

    Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Mr. Peter Obi has said that the party would reverse what he described as baggage economy by reducing the dependence on crude as the major revenue earner.

    Obi said that the issues of restructuring was sacrosanct to addressing some of the challenges bedevilling the country.

    The former Governor of Anambra State spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital during an interactive session with members of the public including civil society, representatives of the Nigerian Medical Society, NMA, Nigeria Bar Association and Nigeria Society of Engineers and other professional bodies.

    Obi assured the gathering that the present economic misfortunes of the country would be reversed to rapid economic growth if the PDP is voted into power.

    He said he believed that security votes is right but that monies belonging to the public should be properly accounted for.

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    Obi who accused the Buhari-led administration of failing in the promises to the people said it was due to bad leadership and cluelessness.

    He said a PDP government would bring back foreign investors to develop the economy especially those who closed their businesses for fear of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency as a result of inability to provide security for the citizenry.

    According to him, “The election we are face is not election between Atiku and Buhari. It is about the future of Nigeria. Anybody can tell you any story, the thing is that Nigeria is collapsing. Today, we record insecurity like never in the history of Nigeria. Today Nigeria has the highest number of poor people in the world, we must come together to send them packing.

    “Nigeria has been shut down economically, politically and socially for over three years and has resulted in hunger, insecurity, and economic instability especially in the North Eastern part of the country.

    “We are going to treat everybody equal especially the physically challenged in the area of empowerment. We will take the issue of the physically challenged very seriously in our incoming government and that is one of our agenda.

    “When we will do proper restructuring and federalism, local government will become very free and autonomous to get its revenue directly from the federation account without state interference for rapid grassroot development”

    State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih urged the people not to be carried away with the sharing of N10, 000 by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Diya, NMA mourn ex-president

    FORMER Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have condoled with Nigerians on the death of former President Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    General Diya, who described the late Shagari as a perfect man of love, peace, passion and ultimate concern for the plight of others, urged those at the helms of affairs to emulate his humility and sacrifice with a view to moving the nation forward.

    The former number two man also said the late Shagari’s zeal, appetite for goal and sense of nationalism, when he led Nigeria, placed Nigeria on global map and should be emulated by the current leaders.

    Diya, while condoling with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians, said: “The good that men do lives not only after their death, but even before such as great testimonial of the inestimable blueprint at all times.”

    The NMA described the late former President as a symbol of unity.

    Shagari died on the 28thof December 2018 following a brief illness.

    A statement by its President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, said the former President’s tenure impacted positively on the life of Nigerians, especially in the health sector.

    He stated that Shagari instituted welfare driven policies while in government.

    The statement said: “The former President was a compassionate leader, whose tenure impacted positively on the life of Nigerians, especially in the health sector where he instituted welfare-driven policies. Above all, Shagari was a symbol of unity.

    “The NMA, therefore, joins others in extolling the leadership qualities of the former President.”

  • NMA decries increase in mortality rate in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Medical Association (MMA) in Zamfara on Thursday lamented the increasing mortality rate in the state.

    The Vice Chairman of the Association, Dr Manir Bature, made the observation while presenting a paper at a town hall meeting with governorship candidates of five political parties in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the town hall meeting was organised by the Advocacy Nigeria, in collaboration with Mac Arthur Foundation, WRAPA.

    The theme of the meeting is “Our Government, Our Health”.

    Bature said the state had Women of Child Bearing Age (WCBA) population of 1,014,136 and records 11,000 Child Maternal Deaths annually.

    He said 30 pregnant women were dying daily according to survey conducted by Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH2), in 2017.

    He said the state was facing gross inadequate manpower and equipment and inadequate funding by the government to health sector.

    He lamented that Zamfara, with a population of 4.7 million according to 2017 projection spread across the 14 local government areas, had only 345 medical doctors.

    “Out of the number, 270 were concentrated in Gusau the state capital leaving the remaining 13 local government areas with just 75 doctors.

    “If not for donor agencies intervention, health care would have collapsed in Zamfara,” he said.

    Bature  appealed to government at all levels to wake up to their responsibilities and address the situation.

    The Project Officer, Advocacy Nigeria, Mrs Larai Jibrin, criticised  the government for not paying deserving attention to the health sector.

    She  said this made the country to fall below the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.

    Ahmed said Nigeria was rated 187 out of 191 countries in terms of health care delivery with the third highest numbers of maternal mortality in the world.

    “Sadly as of 2014, Zamfara state was worse with 1025 deaths for every 100,000 live birth.” she said.

    She decried that Nigeria had never met African Union set benchmark for health of 15 per cent of a country budget.

    She said the federal government, in the 2018 budget, allocated N340 billion, representing 3.9 per cent of the N8.6 trillion budget.

    Earlier, the State Coordinator, Advocacy Nigeria, Malam Rabiu Sambo, said the townhall meeting was intended to create awareness on health situation in the state as the nation moved closer to the next general election that would usher in new leaders.

    Sambo also said the state government had not been giving the expected attention to the health care sector. (NAN)

  • NAFDAC, NMA to end harmful oil in 2019

    NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) and Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have agreed to eliminate harmful oil in the country by December 2019.

    The partnership will ensure reduction of the consumption of Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) to not more than two per cent.

    A committee, comprising representatives from NAFDAC, NMA, and relevant stakeholders, will be inaugurated on Friday, to drive the policy.

    Recently, World Health Organisation (WHO) called for elimination of TFAs from the global food supply, and released an action package, called REPLACE, that included policy recommendations and interventions for governments to pursue.

    Speaking yesterday when the leadership of NMA visited the management of NAFDAC in Abuja, Director General of NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the agency would work with NMA to save lives.

    Adeyeye described as worrisome the high rate of sudden deaths in Nigeria, with many attributed to diet.

    She stressed: “I don’t know how many Nigerians have died of Trans Fatty Acids and hydrogenated oils.”

    The NAFDAC chief called for more advocacy to sensitise the people on the danger of consuming toxic oil.

    “We have to talk to our people that fatty oil kills,” she stressed.

    Hence, she said NAFDAC would work with NMA to ensure that the date was achieved.

    “We are all on the same page on the issue of TFAs and hydrogenated oils,” she added.

    On the issue of policy, she said the country needed a policy; something both parties agreed to, leading to the committee to midwife a policy to eliminate harmful oil.

    Earlier, NMA President Dr. Francis Faduyile said TFAs were toxic chemicals unarguably implicated in the epidemics of sudden deaths in Nigeria traceable to heart attacks.

    Faduyile noted that research by Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), showed that 44 per cent of sudden death is from hypertension; other are heart-related.

    “All of them have something to do with diet,” he added.

    NMA president also stressed:  “We are here today as part of our efforts to collaborate with industry stakeholders to work through the policy process to see the restriction of the content of TFAs in our food chain to not more than two per cent while hydrogenated oils, such as those in margarines are banned in Nigeria.”

  • NMA demands justice for late Ochanya, allegedly raped by father, son

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) wants the federal government to ensure that justice is done in the case of the late Miss Ochanya Ogbanje, allegedly raped by father and son in Gboko, Benue State.

    Dr. Godwin Tijani, Chairman, National Ad hoc Committee on Gender Violence and other Related Issues of NMA, made the call in a statement in Lokoja yesterday.

    He said that justice to the deceased 13-year-old girl would be justice to millions of women across the world, who are victims of gender violence.

    Tijani said that NMA took rape as a crime against humanity and insisted that government and other stakeholders should do the needful and bring the alleged perpetrators of the act to justice.

    He reiterated the urgent need for Nigerians to rise against all forms of gender-based violence in the country.

    He said: “We have received with a deep shock the news of the death of Miss Ochanya Ogbanje, a 13-year-old pupil of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) in Gboko.

    “We feel more saddened that her death was caused by a medical condition called “Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF)” and other related complications that arose from alleged serial sexual abuses by a father and his son.

    “The Nigerian Medical Association totally condemns this heinous act and advises the police and the judiciary to ensure that justice is served on the culprits for all Nigerians to see,” he said.

    Tijani commended all women groups and NGOs which came out publicly to protest and condemn the act in its entirety.

    He solicited support of all stakeholders in humanity towards the campaign against gender-based violence in the country.

    “The Gender-Violence Committee of NMA is ready to partner Women Affairs Ministry at federal and state levels, groups, organisations and NGOs to enlighten the public on the danger of rape and any gender-violence-related issues to reduce the menace.”

    The chairman said that such enlightenment should be directed at schools, social clubs, churches, mosques and the media, to demystify the myths about gender violence.

    The deceased was allegedly raped serially by one Andrew Ogboja, 51, and his son, Victor.

    The man is a lecturer in the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, while his son is a final year student at Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

    Tijjani said that Ochanya died following a complication from VVF and other health complications at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

    “The deceased was living with them and for many years they defiled her through vagina and anal sex,” he said.

     

  • NMA extends ultimatum to FG over reconstitution of council

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Monday says it will extend the ultimatum given to the Federal Government to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) by two weeks.

    The NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, in a statement in Lagos, said that the extension was to allow government to complete the process of its reconstitution, which, according to him, has reached an advanced stage.

    NMA had on Sept. 7 issued a Sept. 30 deadline for the government to reconstitute the board of the MDCN.

    Faduyile said, however, that the association would not accept any further delay beyond Oct. 14, 2018.
    “We wish to state unequivocally, that the dissolution of the MDCN has caused a lot of damages to medical practice in the country.

    “The colossal damage brought about by the absence of the regulatory body is almost irreversible.
    “Nigeria perhaps could be the only country that allows the practice of medicine to go on without regulation, even for one day.

    “NMA further calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct that henceforth, the MDCN should never be dissolved, to safeguard the health of all Nigerians, “ he said.

    The NMA President urged Nigerians to resolve to contribute their quota sacrificially toward nation building as the country celebrates her 58th independence.

    He said that irrespective of the lapses and setbacks, there was still hope for a greater country.

    Faduyile said: “I therefore urge all Nigerians to keep faith with the government and diligently contribute their quota to the change mantra of the present administration.

    “Our religious and ethnic diversities should be a source of strength and unity rather than weakness and division.

    “This is the time for all Nigerians to meditate on the present state of affairs in the country and resolve to contribute their quota sacrificially toward our nation’s building. “

    According to him, efforts made to reposition the country has yet to bring desired results that will ease the sufferings of Nigerians.

    He said that 58 years after independence, the country was yet to make an impressive mark, accounting for its low ranking in the Global Human Development and Health Indices.

    “We also observed that the country has never lacked effective recommendations to mitigate our crippling socio-economic, political and developmental woes.

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    “Rather, poor and lackluster implementation including absence of the needed political will, have been responsible for the uninspiring status of the nation in the global development circle.

    “In particular, the failure to fully implement the National Health Act 2014, which we believe will guarantee Nigerians Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    “It is important to reiterate that UHC shall not only increase access to health care delivery but also make it affordable through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    “Also, with the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBSHIP) as an integral component and will be complemented by the Basic Healthcare Provision fund and other sources of fund from luxury items and taxes, “ he said.