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Tag: Health Workers

  • Trouble looms as Kaduna health workers threaten strike over salary deduction

    Trouble looms as Kaduna health workers threaten strike over salary deduction

    The Congress of Health Workers’ Unions and Associations, Kaduna State chapter, has given the State government an ultimatum to refund their 25 percent salary that was cut.

    They also tasked the government to provide them with Personal Protective Equipment.

    The union said failure by the State government to meet the demand, they will be left with no option than to take all the necessary actions within the labour laws.

    The workers stated this in a communique issued at the end of their joint meeting.

    It was signed by the leaders of associations of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Kaduna State Council, Medical Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy and AMLSN Kaduna Branch.

    The communique said, “We reject in its entirety the deduction of 25% of healthcare workers salary as this is illegal and has reduced the morale of workers in the frontlines.”

    Participants at the meeting said they demand for a refund of the 25% deducted in April, 2020 and a stoppage of further deductions.

    “All health workers currently in contact with patients or body specimens are at high risk of exposure to COVID 19 and other infectious diseases and should be categorized as such in the Occupational Safety insensitive of the state government,” the statement added.

    They urged the state government to provide adequate basic PPEs to all the health facilities across the state, stressing that “If government fails to meet the above demands, then this communique shall serve as an ultimatum to the State government and we shall be left with no option than to take all the necessary actions within the Labour laws.”

    They noted that since the quarantine order imposed on the State, it exempted healthcare workers who have been in the frontlines of the battle against COVID 19 in the State and have continued to offer services to non-COVID 19 patients since the lockdown began.

    They bemoaned that there was no clear definition of the different categories of healthcare workers in the Occupational Safety incentives announced by the State government, adding that all healthcare workers in the State are in the frontlines of this fight against COVID 19 as long as they continued to see patients.

    They observed that there are inadequate Personal Protective Equipments at the hospitals and primary health centres across the State and warned that joint health workers resolved to take labour action if the 25 percent earlier cut by the government was not refunded.

    In attendance at the meeting were representatives of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria Kaduna state, Nigerian Medical Association Kaduna State, Association of resident doctors Kaduna State, Medical and Dental consultants association of Nigeria BDTH, Association of resident doctors BDTH, National Association of Community Health practitioners of Nigeria, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologist and pharmacy Technician of Nigeria, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Kaduna state chapter, Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Joint Health Workers Union, Kaduna.

     

  • 12 health workers test positive for Coronavirus

    12 health workers test positive for Coronavirus

    The Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, says 12 health workers in the state have been infected with coronavirus.

    Maigoro made the disclosure at a news conference on Saturday in Bauchi.

    He, however, said that no death had been recorded so far among all the affected health workers.

    “As at today, we have 12 medical officers in the whole of Bauchi state who have been infected with COVID-19.

    “Six of them are in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Council of the state, while others are here in Bauchi

    “Let me, however, tell you that we have not recorded any death among these health workers,” the commissioner said.

    While speaking on patients fleeing isolation centres in some states, Maigoro said the state’s surveillance team had a link with other states, saying this would make it easier to trace and take such people back to isolation centres.

    “We have a link between Bauchi and other states; our surveillance team has a link; if you escape, they will give us your contact, which we will use to trace you.

    “There is inter-state synergy; we have just apprehended a contact from Taraba State, who came to Bauchi and he is being isolated.

    “Wherever you are, once we have your address, we are going to get you, because if we don’t, you are going to infect other people in the community,” he said.

  • Drama as COVID-19 patients lock up doctors, nurses in Kano

    Drama as COVID-19 patients lock up doctors, nurses in Kano

    The isolation centres located at Kwanar Dawaki,in Kano state,when some COVID-19 patients held health workers hostage for four hours.

    The former chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Kano branch, Professor Aminu Mohammed confirmed the aggrieved patients took two medical doctors and one nurse into captivity.

    He said the health workers were on routine medical ward round check when the incident occurred.

    According to him, the health workers, who wore PPE during the routine check were rounded up and locked up in an empty room in the centre, where they were held hostage for four hours.

    He decried the maltreatment of the health workers by the patients, saying they had to break open the door of the room where they were kept when the heat became unbearable.

    When contacted, the head of Kano Covid-19 technical response team, Dr Tijjani Husaini, said he was not aware of the incident.

    One of the patients, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said they were displeased with the way they were been treated.

    The patient lamented they have been in isolation for one week without been subjected to medical examination to truly determine if they had contracted the virus or not, saying they wanted to be released to rejoin their families.

  • COVID-19: Kwara Gov, Abdulrazaq approves N25,000 daily allowance for health workers, others

    COVID-19: Kwara Gov, Abdulrazaq approves N25,000 daily allowance for health workers, others

    Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has approved payment of N25,000 daily allowance to medical doctors involved in handling coronavirus pandemic in the state.

    The governor also approved payment of varying allowances on a daily basis to other health workers involved in the COVID-19 campaign.

    According to a statement by the press secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the payment is meant to encourage the frontline health workers to do more.

    In appreciation, the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Kolade Solagberu, commended the governor, saying that, “This is no doubt motivating and an added impetus towards driving the ready spirit of the health workers.

    “The Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association is proud to have you as our governor at this crucial time and shall sustain our collaborative stance to further break newer grounds for an overall improved health care system in Kwara State.”

    The government meanwhile has commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its technical support for the state’s medical team, saying the NCDC delegation would be leaving Kwara better prepared to manage COVID-19 and similar cases in the future.

    “I write on behalf of His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the good people of Kwara State to express our profound appreciation for your noble contribution while in the state particularly in the fight against COVID-19,” Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee, said in a letter addressed to the NCDC team which departed the state on Tuesday.

    “Your expertise and technical know-how have tremendously improved the state’s healthcare services especially during this crucial time of combating the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic. It is also pertinent to state that the history of the present health challenges will not be complete without your contribution written in gold.”

    The NCDC delegation, led by Dr Shuaib Belgore, arrived Kwara a few weeks ago to drill the state’s medical team on the handling of the pandemic, resulting in strengthened capacity and capability of the state to tackle the pandemic.

  • May Day: Atiku commends health workers leading battle against COVID-19 pandemic

    May Day: Atiku commends health workers leading battle against COVID-19 pandemic

    As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark Workers’ Day, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has commended health workers leading the battle to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

    Workers’ Day is celebrated on May 1 every year.

    Abubakar, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said this year’s Workers Day was coming at a time when Nigeria was in the middle of a ravaging health pandemic.

    He said he believed it was more appropriate to use the opportunity to express utmost gratitude to health workers who had been leading the battle to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

    According to him, we cannot thank such workers enough.

    “Since December last year when the novel coronavirus reared its ugly head in China, it has expanded to nearly every corner of the world. Nigeria has not been spared of this scourge.

    “From our index case in February, the plague has spread to 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 1,728 confirmed cases and 51 deaths, according to information from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as at April 29.

    “The good news, however, is that thanks to our heroic healthcare workers, 307 persons were successfully treated and discharged.

    “One of those is my son, Mohammed. I remain eternally grateful to the medical personnel for their services.”

    Abubakar expressed optimism that after the pandemic, governments would see the need to increase spending on healthcare and human capital development.

    He said they should also work toward a better standard of living for the people and other topical issues being demanded by the Labour.

    Abubakar said no one ever envisaged that the global economy could afford to shut down for several weeks with heavy consequences on businesses – both public and private sector.

    “But even the greater casualties of the current lockdowns are the workers.”

    Abubakar said there were abundant reports about how companies and corporations were laying off staff and cutting wages.

    According to him, some state governments are finding it difficult to pay salary, while others are slashing workers’ salary on account of the COVID-19 situation.

    “It will be wrong of us as a society to say that the weakest of us should bear the pain of this affliction. The reverse should be the case.

    “It will not be asking for too much to urge the National Assembly to forbid any employer of Labour from penalising workers in the effect of the pandemic.

    “The grim reality of the situation that we are in today calls for greater understanding between government and Labour. It is, therefore, time that both entities see each other as partners in progress.

    “On the occasion of this year’s Workers Day, I join many across the world in solidarity with the Nigerian workers in particular who have been making great sacrifices to keep our frontiers firm.

    “I want to however take solace in the can-do Nigerian spirit. We shall not give up. We shall not give in. It will take more than Covid-19 and the consequential lockdown to knock us down.

    “It will not be easy, but standing united, we can rebuild our country because it is the place we call home,” he said.

  • 113 Nigerian health workers infected with coronavirus – FG

    113 Nigerian health workers infected with coronavirus – FG

    Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has debunked reports that 300 health workers were infected by the coronavirus.

    In the briefing today as a member of Presidential Task Force briefing, Ehanire said 113 health workers were infected.

    “The over 300 doctors that are infected is not true. There are not so many people in the health sector who are infected,” he said.

    “The latest figures we have is that they are about 113 actually.”

    He also said not all infected health workers are from the public sector.

    “Some are from private hospitals”, he said.

    He condemned the frequent rate at which COVID-19 patients are being treated in private hospitals without health workers taking the necessary precautions and training.

    However, he disclosed that the Federal Government is working on local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to support frontline workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Ehanire advised healthcare workers who felt they could not handle the pandemic to speak up, noting nobody would be forced or conscripted to join.

    He urged healthcare workers who had been trained on infectious disease control to sustain the fight against the pandemic.

    “Healthcare workers who have no training have no business handling coronavirus, ” he said.

    The minister said that daily laboratory testing capacity for COVID-19 has been increased to 2,500 in the 15 molecular diagnosis laboratories across the country.

    Of the 1,728 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria on Wednessday, 307 have been treated and discharged, while 51 died.

  • BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu increases hazard allowance of health workers in Lagos

    BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu increases hazard allowance of health workers in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday approved an increment in the hazard allowance of health workers in the state.

    In a statement released on Tuesday, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, head of service in the state, said the governor, approved the increment of the health workers’ hazard allowance from N5,000 to N25, 000.

    He said the increment is for the month of April.

    Muri-Okunola said the increment is in appreciation of the dedication of all health workers in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic and their daily exposure to the disease.

    He added that the gesture is an incentive to boost the morale of the health workers as they go about their duties in saving lives.

    “In appreciation of the dedication of all Health Officers in Lagos State to the fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic, as well as their daily hazardous exposure to the highly contagious disease, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has approved the increment of Hazard Allowance for all Health Officers in Lagos State from N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) to N25,000 (Twenty-Five Thousand Naira) for the month of April, 2020,” the circular read.

    “The gesture is an incentive to all Health Officers in the State, as Frontline Responders in the fight against the Pandemic. It is believed that the Officers would reciprocate same with more doggedness and enthusiasm towards duty in all Health facilities State-wide.

    “Furthermore, I wish to reiterate that our collective efforts will yield the desired result, as this Pandemic shall pass. Accounting Officers are enjoined to note the contents of this Circular and give it the Service-wide publicity it deserves.

  • World Health Day: WHO pays tribute to health workers battling COVID-19

    World Health Day: WHO pays tribute to health workers battling COVID-19

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, has paid tribute to all healthcare workers battling the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world.

    The UN’s health agency paid the tribute on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO to commemorate the World Health Day.

    The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every April 7, under the sponsorship of the WHO, as well as other related organisations.

    WHO declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife; and the day has been set aside to celebrate the work of the caregivers.

    “On World Health Day, let’s say thank you to all the nurses and midwives who put themselves at risk to help people everywhere, including in times of outbreaks.

    “Today is a day to celebrate the critical role of nurses and midwives in keeping the world healthy.

    “Thank you Midwife Helen Masika who worked tirelessly to protect newborns from Ebola infection in Butembo in Democratic Republic of Congo,” WHO stated.

    Meanwhile, WHO headquarters in Geneva has launched a new report that provided an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce globally to commemorate the day.

    In the new report on “The State of the World’s Nursing 2020,’’ WHO provided an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce.

    The report highlights the nursing contribution and confirms that investment in the nursing profession is a benefit to society, not a cost.

    “The world needs millions more nurses, and we are calling on governments to do the right thing, invest in this wonderful profession and watch their populations benefit from the amazing work that only nurses can do.

    “About 90 per cent of all nurses are female, yet few nurses are found in senior health leadership positions – the bulk of those positions are held by men.

    “But when countries enable nurses to take a leadership role, for example by having a government chief nursing officer (or equivalent), and nursing leadership programmes, conditions for nurses improve,” the report noted.

    The report also said to equip the world with the nursing workforce, it required WHO and its partners recommend that all countries increase funding to educate and employ more nurses; strengthen capacity to collect, analyse and act on data about the health workforce.

    It also expects WHO and its partners to monitor nurse mobility and migration and manage it responsibly and ethically.

    Additionally, it wants WHO and partners to, “Educate and train nurses in the scientific, technological and sociological skills they need to drive progress in primary health care; establish leadership positions including a government chief nurse and support leadership development among young nurses.

    “Ensure that nurses in primary health care teams work to their full potential, for example in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases.

    “Improve working conditions including through safe staffing levels, fair salaries, and respecting rights to occupational health and safety; implement gender-sensitive nursing workforce policies.”

    The report similarly wants WHO and its partners to, “Modernise professional nursing regulation by harmonising education and practice standards and using systems that can recognise and process nurses’ credentials globally.

    “Strengthen the role of nurses in care teams by bringing different sectors (health, education, immigration, finance and labour) together with nursing stakeholders for policy dialogue and workforce planning.”

  • COVID-19: Lady Gaga unveils star-studded telecast in aid of healthcare workers

    Pop music superstar Lady Gaga has announced a worldwide telecast on 18 April in support of healthcare workers fighting coronavirus pandemic.

    In the line up are Paul McCartney, Lizzo and Billie Eilish.

    The event, called “One World: Together at Home,” will be shown on multiple television channels.

    It will also be streamed on and digital networks around the world.

    It will be hosted by late-night television comedians Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.

    Gaga, who said she helped curate the celebrity lineup, called in to World Health Organization’s coronavirus briefing on Monday to unveil the project.

    It is a joint effort with advocacy group Global Citizen.

    Organizers already have raised $35 million to help with the crisis, Gaga said.

    The money will benefit WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

    Their goal is to raise funds in advance of the upcoming telecast so viewers can “sit back and enjoy the show you all deserve,” she said.

    The event will also feature appearances and performances by Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Chris Martin and David Beckham.

    Elton John, John Legend, Keith Urban, Stevie Wonder and others will feature, according to a statement.

  • COVID-19: Enugu approves assurance package for doctors, other health workers

    In furtherance of his resolve to strengthen the state’s response to Corona Virus Disease pandemic, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved the immediate provision of Group Life/Group Personal Accident Assurance Policy for all medical doctors in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the assurance package is also extended to all doctors in the State Ministry of Health and all other health workers.

    Other beneficiaries, according to the statement, include fire fighters, staff of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency and all those involved in other essential services.

    Prof. Ortuanya added that Gov. Ugwuanyi is hopeful this goodwill will inspire higher commitment and productivity amongst the beneficiaries.

    In a related development, the governor has directed the Presidents General of all Town Unions in the state to mobilize volunteers and town criers in their respective autonomous communities to enlighten residents of their communities on adherence to the protocol for prevention of COVID-19 transmission with effect from Thursday, March 26, 2020.

    The Presidents General were further directed to interface with the Enugu State Multi-sectoral Rapid Response Team, through the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, for collection of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on Corona Virus disease, for use by the Volunteers and Town Criers.

    According to Prof. Ortuanya, the state government has also made provisions for logistic support to the Presidents General for the various Town Criers for this assignment.