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Tag: NMA

  • Six doctors die in auto crash

    … NMA declares one-week mourning

    Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday confirmed the death of six of its members in a ghastly motor accident along Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

    The doctors are part of the Ekiti State delegates to the 56th Annual General Conference/Annual Delegates Meeting (AGC/ADM) of NMA currently holding in Sokoto State.

    The driver conveying the doctors to Sokoto also died in the accident.

    Consequently, the president of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe and the General Secretary,  Adewunmi Alayaki, in a statement directed all doctors to observe one week of mourning, commencing from Tuesday.

    Every doctor is expected to put on black band on the left arm over white overall.

    Meanwhile, the conference is still ongoing.

    The dead doctors are – Dr. Alex Akinyele – Secretary NMA Ekiti, Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Ido Ekiti; Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi – General Surgeon, FTH, Ido Ekiti; Dr. O.J. Taiwo – Anatomic Pathologist, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti; Dr. Ogunseye J.B – National Association of General and Government Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) National Secretary, Hospital Management Board (HMB), Ekiti; Dr. Olajide .O – Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), EKSUTH President and Dr. Atolani Adeniyi – Secretary NAGGMDP, Ekiti State.

    NMA also confirmed the name of the driver, as Mr. Ajibola.

  • 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.”

  • ‘Vegetable consumption vital to check fibroid infection’

    Chairman, Abuja Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Fatima Mairami has disclosed that vegetable consumption is vital to prevent uterine fibroid infection among women.

    Mairami said at a sensitization forum organized by The Fibroid Initiative (TFI), Monday in Abuja that the infection is associated with women of reproductive age.

    She said about 30 per cent of women are currently infected, adding that in 50 years, about 50 per cent of women globally would require treatment for fibroid.

    The medical expert identified need for women to embark on regular checkups for likely early detection and prevention.

    “It occurs 3 to 9 times more frequently in Blacks than Caucasian women and autopsy has shown that 20 – 50 per cent of women less than 30 years harbors fibroids. So major protective factors include eating vegetables, having at least one pregnancy beyond gestational period of 20 weeks is protective, two (2)pregnancy gives 50 per cent protection,” she said.

    However, Mairami called for intensive campaign against the ailment.

    Earlier, TFI founder, Amb. Grace Eke-Charrier disclosed how women, who falls victim are often stigmatised in the society and among family members.

    She said they often suffer in silence.

    According to her, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is committed to strengthen awareness on international platform and encourage different approach to preventing the ailment and non-surgical treatments.

    “TFI is a global initiative that came into being as a result of my challenges with uterine fibroids and of close friends and associates, majority of whom are board members

    “Our mission is to raise public awareness and ignite coverage and conversations on the fibroid condition plus its negative impact on the total wellbeing of women,” Eke-Charrier added.

  • NMA decries low budgetary allocation to health

    NMA decries low budgetary allocation to health

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says the 3.56 per cent budgetary allocation to the health sector in the 2016 budget was detrimental to achieving universal health coverage.

    Dr. Kayode Obembe, President of the association, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    He described the allocation as low and unacceptable to improved healthcare delivery in the country.

    Obembe said the 2001 declaration by Heads of states of African Union of dedicating 15 per cent of annual budget to the health sector would avail the populace universal health coverage.

    The chairman therefore described the 3.56 per cent allocation as a far cry from the commitment entered; adding that it was detrimental toward assured healthcare needs of the general public.

    The president noted that failure to dedicate 15 per cent of the entire budget to health would deter the achievement of universal health coverage.

    Obembe advised the Federal Government to give priority attention toward capturing 15 per cent of health in the nation’s annual budget.

    “We are not happy that the budgeting provision of one per cent consolidated fund which is about N60 billion was not reflected in the budget and this must be rectified.

    “Now that the budget has been withdrawn we believe that when it is going to be presented this must be taken care of.

    “The percentage of 3.56 allocated to health in the 2016 budget is deplorably low and we are expecting 15 per cent because when the budget is low there is no way a nation can achieve universal health coverage.

    “Failure to dedicate such amount to health is like sending soldiers to war front without ammunition,’’ he said.

  • NMA protest turns bloody in Imo

    The protest by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Imo State turned bloody when policemen opened fire on the protesting doctors.

    The doctors are protesting the alleged concessioning of public hospitals by the government.

    A victim, Dr Bede Azudiaro, who was shot on the neck, is receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Federal Medical Center, (FMC), Owerri .

    According to the chairman of the Guild of Nigerian Doctors, Dr Darlington Akukwu, they were on a “one-day protest against the anti-life policies of the Imo State Government when armed policemen ambushed them at Orlu junction and prevented them from continuing the protest.

    “Before we began the rally, we wrote to the police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). But this morning, as we were marching to the Government House, we were stopped by armed policemen at Orlu roundabout. They barricaded the road and said we cannot continue with the protest.

    “We were peaceful in our conduct but while asking why they barricaded our way, three heavily-armed policemen came from nowhere and opened fire on us. We called the Commissioner of Police but he did not pick his calls.

    “We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, to produce the culprits,” Akukwu said.

    A communiqué by the state chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Emele Hyacinth condemned the “use of taskforce by the state government to regulate medical practice as against the provisions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)”.

    The communiqué also condemned the concessioning of public health institutions, noting that the development “will not only make healthcare services unaffordable and inaccessible, but the state also stands to lose the assistance of donor agencies and partners”.

    The doctors have begun a three-day warning strike to protest the shooting.

    But the police have denied shooting the protesters.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Dave Akeremi said the doctors applied to the police to hold a peaceful protest that will end at the Freedom Square, and not the Government House.

  • Kaduna NMA moves to check quacks

    Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kaduna State has moved to check-mate quackery and other malpractices in the medical profession.

    The Chairman Kaduna State Chapter of the Association, Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim gave this indication while briefing newsmen on rundown of activities marking the association’s 2015 Physician Week, Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Kaduna Friday.

    Dr. Ibrahim said the activities of quack Doctors have become alarming and worrisome and need urgent attention to tackle them.

    He said the association on weekly basis receives complaints concerning cases of malpractice and quackery, hence the urgent need for the public, the practitioners and the regulators to demonstrate commitment to tackle the challenges.

    According to him, “At least once in every week, NMA Kaduna State receives a complaints ranging from issues on medical malpractice, especially relating to violation of the ethics and values of clinical practice, or to quackery (unauthorised personnel performing the duties of Doctors).

    “As the old saying goes; a robber demands your money or your life; but, a quack demands your money and your life! It is therefore, no gain saying that top among problems begging for immediate attention in the health sector in Kaduna State is medical malpractice.

    “The NMA recognises that there is an urgent need for the public, the practitioners and the regulators to demonstrate commitment to face these challenges.

    “This underscores the careful choice of the theme of this year’s annual general meeting and scientific conference; addressing the many faces of medical malpractice in Nigeria. And a significant feature of this year’s conference is it focus on brainstorming on ways to address the problem of medical malpractice in Kaduna State.

    “Suspected cases of medical malpractice and quackery must be reported promptly to the Nigerian Medical Association, the Kaduna State ministry of Health, the medical and dental council of Nigeria and even the police,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, the association is using the week to honour physicians who distinguished themselves and also create awareness on the need for measles and polio vaccination, personal hygiene and general preventive measures to curtail the transmission of infectious diseases.

  • NMA shouldn’t hijack LUTH, says CMD

    The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) yesterday appealed to the Lagos branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) not to run the hospital aground.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, at a briefing in Lagos, said the groups were meddling in the hospital’s affairs.

    But the NMA and resident doctors alleged that the CMD used security agents to harass  workers; that the management refused to pay the arrears of emoluments of doctors, such as examination fee, update course fee and promotion arrears, among others.

    They alleged that the hospital stopped the deducted union dues payable to doctors’ association by their members (ARD LUTH).

    But Bode debunked the allegations, saying some NMA and ARD members had personal scores to settle.

    He warned doctors to shun strikes and other activities  inimical to the hospital’s progress.

    The CMD said resident doctors need a change of attitude as “no doctor would be paid for job not done”.

    The Lagos NMA chairman, Dr Tope Ojo, advised the CMD to vacate his position because he has attained the mandatory age of retirement.

     

     

  • NMA debunks sale of hospitals

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has debunked the claim by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) that government plans to sell off hospitals under the guise of public-private partnerships (PPP) .  The association said  the union was afraid of the work place discipline that private sector control would bring to hospitals.

    Head of NMA’s clinical governance committee Dr Joseph Ana accused JOHESU of wanting its members to continue with their bad work ethics while they receive salaries ferom the government.

    A recent report quoted JOHESU of accusing the government of planning to sell  hospitals.

    He stressed that private sector involvement in health would bring in corporate efficiency, discipline and resources which government alone cannot afford, if it is to deliver on health promises.

  • Gunmen kidnap medical doctor in Ebonyi

    Gunmen kidnap medical doctor in Ebonyi

    A medical doctor, Dr. Johnson Obuna has been kidnapped in his private hospital at Aguogboriga Estate in Abakaliki by unknown gunmen.

    The doctor who is a pastor with Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria is an Obstetrician gynecologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    The former state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) was kidnapped by unknown gunmen when he was about leaving his hospital after the day’s work.

    [ad id=”403656″]He was kidnapped on Tuesday around 9pm.

    Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of NMA, Dr. Agwu Umahi said the Association was going to hold an emergency meeting Thursday to sensitize members on the development so that all hands would be on deck to ensure his release immediately.

    In a statement, Ebonyi state police command assured the general public that the medical doctor would soon be released as the command was on top of the situation.

    Already, the Commissioner of police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdullah  has  visited the victim’s family and deployed officers of the command toward the task of hunting down the kidnappers and releasing the victim without delay.

    Meanwhile, NMA has threatened to embark on strike if their colleague was not released.

    They said such episode has become a trend in the state and should be discouraged by security agencies in the state.

  • Photo : Ogun commits to affordable health care

    Photo : Ogun commits to affordable health care

    The Ogun State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga (middle), The Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Ogun chapter Dr Mrs Adenike Odewale (right), The former Senate member Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (A.G.M)/Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State branch recently in Abeokuta.
    The Ogun State Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga (middle), The Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Ogun chapter Dr Mrs Adenike Odewale (right), The former Senate member Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (A.G.M)/Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State branch recently in Abeokuta.