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  • BREAKING: Resident doctors commence indefinite strike

    BREAKING: Resident doctors commence indefinite strike

    The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria on Monday began a nationwide strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum.

     

    NARD President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, announced this while addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

     

    He stated that the union has decided to exempt its members working in various coronavirus (COVID-19) isolation and treatment centres across the country.

     

    Dr Sokomba, however, stated that exception of the members attending to COVID-19 patients was for two weeks before they join the industrial action.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Governors, Labour, doctors reject Gbajabiamila’s Infectious Disease Bill at public hearing

    Governors, Labour, doctors reject Gbajabiamila’s Infectious Disease Bill at public hearing

    Governors, doctors and Labour on Wednesday rejected the Control of Infectious Disease Bill during a public hearing on Wednesday.

    The Bill seeks to repeal the Quarantine Act of 1926, the Nigeria National Health Act (2004), National Programme on Immunisation Act (2004) and the Environmental Health Officers (Registration ETC) of 2002.

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) opposed the bill, which passed second reading on April 28.

    NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said the Bill gives governors scant operational space to manoeuvre.

    “This Bill takes away the only authority the governors have to take specific steps and measures in their domains during an outbreak of infectious disease,” he said.

    NGF believes the bill is undemocratic as it conflicts with the Constitution.

    He noted that too many powers were given to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director-General.

    The NGF chairman said such a bill ought to take into consideration public health necessity.

    “The public should have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of policies and laws and implementation should be open and clear to promote public trust which is crucial for preventing infection spread.

    “Rights of individuals to contest an order or proceeding should be protected as much as possible

    “In cases of considerable economic losses as a result of the imposition of such measures, international recommendations proffer that fair compensation be provided to those individuals.

    “Any intervention seeking to provide a comprehensive legal and policy framework to ensure the effective management of cases involving infectious diseases…must be conducted within the context of the federation, carrying every stakeholder along and holding extensive consultations.

    “The NGF is concerned that the governors were not consulted in putting the Bill together, neither was any role created for them, in utter disregard for their constitutional functions,” Fayemi said.

    The NMA disagreed with many aspects of the Bill, such as compulsory invasive medical examination.

    Through its President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, the association faulted the provision for compulsory treatment or vaccination, saying it is against the ethics of the profession.

    Wabba, who represented the Organised Labour, highlighted 17 grey areas in the bill, which he described as undemocratic.

    “Having read through the Bill, the only reinforcing and overwhelming voice is that of dictatorship.

    “In presenting this memorandum, we choose to uphold our concern that the claim of commitment to the protection of public health and safety does not turn out to be an excuse for the provision of a tool in the hand of an autocrat, empowered to ride roughshod over the fundamental rights of the Nigerian People,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the NCDC Director-General Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said he would speak on the Bill today.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said a lot of the engagement on the proposed legislation “has been ill-informed and outrightly malicious”.

    Represented by the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, he said: “There are those in our society who benefit from promoting the falsehood that every government action is cynical, and every policy proposal must be the product of malignant influence.

    “We must never succumb to the impulses that these elements represent, and we must reject them always as doing so is an act of excellent service to a nation we love and are beholden to.”

  • Delta doctors set date to commence strike over abduction of colleague at General Hospital

    Delta doctors set date to commence strike over abduction of colleague at General Hospital

    Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta state chapter are set to commence a phased strike over the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Wisdom Iboyitete, at the General Hospital, Ojobo in Burutu council area, last Monday.

    A statement signed by the NMA state chairman and secretary, Dr. Ekeneam Omo and Dr. Jude Ugbechie, said the association will commence the strike and a protest walk on Monday, June 8.

    The association called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as security operatives in the state to intensify efforts to rescue their colleague.

    It further expressed worry over the silence of the state government on the incident, which it described as particularly traumatic for the family and other medical practitioners.

    Recall that Dr. Iboyitete, a Principal Medical Officer at the General Hospital, was kidnapped midnight Sunday by gunmen pretending to be patients.

    He was whisked to an unknown destination.

    The abductors had reportedly demanded for N10 million ransom, but later reduced the sum to N5 million on Wednesday.

    It will be noted that the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), in the state, on Thursday declared an indefinite strike as a result of the development.

    The statement reads, “In the early hours of Monday the 1st of June 2020, we received the sad news of the kidnap of our colleague Dr Wisdom Iboyitete at his workplace, General Hospital Ojobo in Burutu LGA, Delta state. He was abducted on the line of duty when he heeded an emergency call to attend to a patient, not knowing that the so called patients he rushed down to attend to were kidnappers.

    “We have had countless cases of kidnap of doctors in the past but for them to now come in the guise of being patients in need of emergency care in the wee hours of the night is to say the least the height of desecration of the noble profession by taking advantage of our humane disposition to duty. How will we answer to emergency calls at night when kidnappers now pose as patients?

    “The events of the last five days have been very traumatic for us and to the immediate family in particular. The silence of the state government, the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board since the incident occurred is worrisome.

    “This unfortunate incident has brought to the fore once again, the need for government to provide adequate security in our hospitals. In addition to kidnapping, we have had incessant cases of harassment and assault of healthcare workers by patients, patients’ relatives and host communities within the hospital premises while discharging their duties.

    “We have observed with keen interest the resolve of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) to withdraw their services indefinitely until our colleague is released unconditionally. We wish to state that this is in congruence with the provisions of the physicians oath we swore to, which enjoined every doctor to attend to their own health, well being and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.

    “As an association, the welfare and security of our members remain sacrosanct. We therefore wish to express our total support of the actions taken so far by the doctors in state hospitals to draw the attention of the State Government, Ministry of Health, the Hospitals Management Board as well as the security agencies of the need to speed up efforts to secure the release of our colleague from captivity unhurt and improve on the security within the hospitals to forestall a reoccurrence of such unfortunate incident.

    “The Delta State NMA is currently mobilising her members to commence phased withdrawal of service and peaceful protest walk from Monday 8th of June 2020.

    “We are however optimistic that His Excellency will prevail on the security agencies to do the needful to ensure the release of Dr. Iboyitete from the clutches of his kidnappers.”

  • Eid-el-Fitri: Police vow to enforce total lockdown in Kaduna

    The Police Command in Kaduna State says it has intensified security coverage and enforcement of total lockdown during the Eid-el- Fitr celebration in the state.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige made the announcement in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna.

    Jalige said that the command had drawn out elaborate operational strategies to ensure compliance of the total lockdown.

    “This is in an order imposed by the state government to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and intensive security coverage to checkmate the activities of criminal elements during Eid period throughout the state.”

    According to him, the command has deployed both conventional and mobile policemen as well as undercover operatives to man and monitor key and vulnerable points with a view to ensure compliance with the lockdown and provide tight security across the state.

    “The command once-again reassures the good people of Kaduna State of its readiness to promptly respond to distress calls and decisively deal with any person or group of persons who in any way attempts to violate the lockdown and social distancing orders during the festive period.

    “The Command reiterates its call on the citizens of Kaduna State to promptly report any suspicious movement or object noticed in your area to the nearest security formation or call the following numbers: 07039675856, 0807591105,” he added.

    Jalige said that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, urged the people of Kaduna state to adhere strictly to the preventive tips against COVID-19 while celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr.

  • I will sack you if you embark on strike, El-Rufai threatens doctors

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has vowed to sack doctors and other health workers threatening to embark on strike.

    He said his administration would not succumb to blackmail by the doctors.

    El-Rufai, in a statement on Thursday night by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said he would keep the health facilities in the state running and protect workers who were willing to work.
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    The governor stated that the strike notice served by the doctors was “criminal” in view of the fact that the purported strike to be declared amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
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    El-Rufai added that his government would not be bent by the industrial action into excluding health workers from the mandatory donation of 25% salary by all civil servants to fund the provision of palliatives for vulnerable people impacted by the lockdown.
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    “The government rejects the strike threat and will regard persons who fail to show up at their assigned places of work as having forfeited their employment. Every health worker that is willing to work is required to sign the register at the Ministry of Health and the health institutions to which they are deployed.
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    “The Ministry of Health has the mandate of the government to ensure that residents of Kaduna State are not deprived of public health services.
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    “Every effort will be made to ensure that health facilities keep functioning, staffed by willing workers who will be guaranteed free and safe access to health facilities. Those who are not willing to work are strongly warned against criminal actions such as attempts to impede access to workplaces, harass willing workers or to sabotage facilities and equipment,” he said,
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    The Punch quoted El-Rufai as saying that the “state government will not be misled into granting health workers a special status amongst public servants. The consequences of concessions made along such lines by previous governments have created a sense that some public servants are more precious than others.”
    …

  • BREAKING: NMA directs doctors in Lagos to return to work

    BREAKING: NMA directs doctors in Lagos to return to work

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State, has reversed the indefinite sit-at-home directive to its members, telling them to resume work from 6 p.m today.

    The Association gave the directive in a joint statement on Thursday in Lagos, by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr Saliu Oseni and Dr Ramon Moronkola, respectively.

    The association on May 20 directed all doctors in the state to immediately proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home strike starting from 6.00p.m of the same day.

    The NMA leaders said their decision was as a result of the conflicting directives by the state government and law enforcement agents on the status of essential workers, including doctors and other health workers regarding movement in the state.

    The leaders also said their action was necessitated the incessant harassment of healthcare workers in Lagos by the security agents.

    “The NMA, Lagos state branch has resolved that it is presently unsafe for its members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement,” they said.

    The NMA leaders said following the directive, the Nigerian Police Force had reached out to the association to clarify and give assurance of their cooperation with all health workers.

    “The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was exemplary as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19, helped prevent the worsening of the situation.

    “The association has further received assurances from the governor and the top hierarchy of the police, that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.

    “Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos state is difficult to resist, considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation,” the statement said.

    The NMA officials commended the governor for his timely intervention and continued assurance in ensuring that health workers who were held by the police were released immediately, and in preventing subsequent recurrence.

    The leaders appreciated the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and the Lagos State commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, for their timely intervention.

    The NMA reassured the citizens of their commitment to continuing to partake actively in the fight against COVID-19, and the delivery of quality healthcare during the ongoing phased easing of restriction of movement and beyond.

  • Eight doctors test positive for Coronavirus in Zamafara

    No fewer than eight doctors are confirmed to have tested positive to coronavirus disease in Zamfara, the state’s branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has said.

    The NMA Vice-Chairman in the state, Dr Mannir Bature, made the disclosure during a chat with journalists in Gusau on Wednesday.

    He said: “Out of about 80 confirmed cases recorded so far in the state, 10 per cent are doctors who came into contact with the virus in the line of duty while trying to save lives especially at emergencies.

    “We are however happy to note that out of the number, sixty per cent have been discharged from hospital while the remaining are fast responding to treatment,” he said.

    Bature also said 30 other doctors who came into contact with their infected colleagues went into self isolation in order to curb further spread of the virus in the state.

    “This situation has seriously caused negative impact on the performance of doctors in the state, especially in this period of the pandemic because we only have a total of about 300 doctors in the state, including those at the Federal Medical Center, Gusau, those at state government health facilities and those in private practice.

    “This is partly why as an association we proposed to the state government under the leadership of Governor Bello Matawalle to engage more doctors and other health personnel as well as sponsor the training of indigent students in medicine so as to boost the number of doctors and improve the healthcare indices of the state,” he stated.

  • COVID-19: Four doctors, 18 nurses, others test positive in Bauchi, Kano

    Four doctors and 18 nurses on Wednesday tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). The doctors and six other health workers tested positive in Bauchi State and the nurses in Niger State.

    Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, who gave a situation update on the pandemic, confirmed the COVID-19 status of the four doctors.

    It was during a news conference at the Government House, Bauchi, the state capital, on Wednesday.

    Mohammed said: “So many doctors and nurses are getting infected in that area and their families are also infected and we have to follow their families up.

    “The health workers who have tested positive include four doctors, six other health workers, including some nurses. Some of them are in Bauchi while some are in Azare but we have a higher number of them in the Azare zone.”

    In Kano, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives said 18 of their members have tested positive for dreaded virus.

    Kano State chapter Chairman of the Association, Ibrahim Maikarfi Muhammad, who confirmed this in Kano, said 86 samples of nurses were taken and results of 18 have indicated their positive status.

    According to him, nine of affected workers are from National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala, seven from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and two from state-run hospitals.

    Muhammad appealed to the government to provide health professionals with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable them discharge their responsibility without fear.

  • 16 doctors infected with COVID-19 in Lagos- Medical Guild

    16 doctors infected with COVID-19 in Lagos- Medical Guild

    Doctors, under the aegis of the Medical Guild, in Lagos State, says 16 of its members have tested positive to COVID-19 in the state.

    Medical Guild comprises doctors under the
    employment of the Lagos State Government.

    The Chairman of the Guild, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, said at a media briefing on Monday in Lagos, that Lagos, being the epicentre of COVID-19 in Nigeria, had seen members of the guild playing a critical role in the response plan.

    Sod Ilo said the doctors were engaged in training, contact tracing, surveillance, enlightening of the public and providing clinical care at the isolation centres and hospitals.

    “This has unfortunately led to several healthcare workers being infected with COVID-19 and over 16 doctors are isolated so far in the state workforce.

    “There may be more doctors who are infected, but from the information available to us, 16 of our members are infected with COVID-19,” he said.

    Sodipo, however, said the infected doctors were doing fine, adding, “we don’t have any mortality among our members”.

    According to him, the current community transmission of COVID-19 has led to a situation where everyone can be designated as a COVID-19 suspect, especially as there are asymptomatic patients, as well as those with atypical symptoms.

    On the current relaxation of the lockdown in the state, Sodipo said the guild was concerned that there might be a surge in number of infected cases in the state.

    According to him, there should be constant analysis of the relaxation of the lockdown.

    “If there is a surge, government should consider reintroduction of the lockdown measures,” Sodipo said.

    He said penalties for defaulters that did not follow the guidelines of social distancing, face masks and reduction in numbers of passengers in public vehicles should be effectively followed.

    The guild chairman maintained that enlightenment of the public should be intensified, especially in the densely populated areas.

    “Some people believe that COVID-19 is a myth; we need to make them realise that the virus is real and dangerous,” he said.

    Sodipo recommended that testing capacity and contact tracing must be ramped up to allow for proper containment of the pandemic.

    “This will assist in clinical decision making with reduction in the spread among the patients, healthcare workers and the population,” he said.

    Sodipo appealed that adequate measures should be put in place to ensure that test results of COVID-19 suspects were released within a maximum of 48 hours toward reducing exposure of the healthcare workers and the populace.

    He called for the provision of more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers in order to assist them to conduct their duties accordingly.

    Sodipo urged government to start the process of dialogue and negotiation with health workers with a mandate for implementation of health workers agreement emphasising health insurance, hazard allowance, COVID-19 allowance among other benefits.

  • Resident doctors begin warning strike in Ogun amid COVID-19 crisis

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun, says it will begin a three-day warning strike on Monday over non-implementation of its demands by the state government.

    The doctors’ grievances were contained in a letter written to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abeokuta.

    The letter jointly signed by the ARD OOUTH President and the General Secretary, Dr Mutiu Popoola and Dr Tope Osundara respectively stated that the association decided to down tools because of “the noncommittal response to several letters written to the government on the matter.”

    Some of the doctors’ demands included non-implementation of the new minimum wage, hazard allowance, inappropriate remuneration, entry level and absence of life insurance policy for its members.

    According to the doctors, the alleged refusal of the state government to appropriately attend to previous warning letters has shown that the government was less concerned about their plight.

    They described the purported increase in hazard allowance from N5,000 to N15,000 as a charade by the government.

    The aggrieved doctors, however, said their members working at the COVID-19 Isolation Centre would be exempted from the strike action.

    “We were taken aback by the arbitrary change in only hazard allowance to be given as COVID-19 Special Hazard Allowance to all health workers.

    “The 200 per cent increase in hazard allowance is just an increase from N5000 to N15,000 for just the month of April.

    “We are in quandary about how the government will put up a charade without giving attention to what our concerns and the real issues are.

    “It is also unsettling to know that our members are without a life insurance or a tax rebate as seen with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and Health Professional Associations and Unions,” the letter stated in part.