By Blessing David
The Nigeria Medical Association NMA in it’s NEC meeting has called on Governments at all levels and the security agencies to urgently do the needful in addressing this menace of insecurity that has continued to threaten the lives of Nigerians as well as health workers in the discharge of their duties and warned that, the already precarious health indices may worsen if left unchecked.
The meeting also observed with concern the worsening insecurity in the country that has led to the inability of both patients and health workers to reach health facilities in some parts of the country while noting with dismay, the failure of both Federal and State Governments to effectively check security lapses and the ravaging incidence of kidnappings in Nigeria.
The NMA made the call in a communique signed by its Presidentr. Dr. Uche R. Ojinmah and Secretary Dr. Jide OnyekweluPresident during it’s NEC meeting held in Gombe state with the theme of the “Healthcare Delivery in the Face of Insecurity”.as well as the sub-themes were “Health Manpower Planning: the Challenges of Physician Burnout and Brain drain in Nigeria” and “Re-emerging Health Issues: Monkey Pox Disease and Marburg Virus Disease”.
About one thousand five hundred and twenty-five (1525) patients with various medical conditions were also offered free medical consultations, free diagnostic tests as well as minor and major surgical procedures at the national conference of the Nigeria NMA Nec meeting.
The NEC noted with deep concern that health threats are increasing in every part of Nigeria and that poor Healthcare infrastructure, insufficient and obsolete equipment, Human resource shortage, poor remuneration of Health workers, medical brain drain, inadequate funding of the health sector, abuse of referral system, inter professional rivalry and insecurity, were the major threats to effective healthcare delivery in the country.
The NEC reiterated that Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, and the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution”.2.
The NEC observed that one of the most serious obstacles to the development of effective health services in Nigeria is inadequate supply of skilled Human Resource which has led to serious manpower crises in most health facilities in the country with the health workers already being overstretched leading to serious distortion in the already poor doctor-patient ratio of 1:5,000 in Nigeria as against the WHO recommendation of 1:600.
It maintained that the shortage of doctors in the country is currently driving the epidemic of Physician burnout in the country hence NEC noted the pervasive negative effect of Physician burnout on all aspects of medical care including lower patient satisfaction and care quality, Physician suicide and higher medical error rates.
The NEC noted the fact that Nigeria has demonstrated capacity in effectively controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Yellow fever and COVID-19 in the past through the institution of public health control measures and surveillance. It also took cognizance of the fact that rapid population growth and the resulting encroachment into wilderness by humans, globalization, extensive resistance to drugs by microorganisms and climate change are the key factors responsible for the emerging and re-emerging outbreaks.
The NEC appreciated the level of progress made in Ekiti, Ondo and Imo States in clearing the unpaid salaries and wages of doctors and other Health workers, even though there have been slow progress made towards the implementation of the new Hazard allowance and the attempt to exclude doctors in Ministries, Departments, Agencies and those in Basic Medical Faculties in Universities.
NEC observed with joy the fact that Delta state Government has already started paying the newly approved Hazard allowance. 6. The NEC decried the action of the Federal Government of Nigeria acting through Federal Ministry of Health in sponsoring a bill on the Establishment of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Regulatory Board in the country.
NEC called on all strata of Government to protect all lives and property in Nigeria but also commended the security agencies for their sacrifice and urged them to do more while admonishing members of the medical profession to watch out for the three cardinal symptoms of burnout which are exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of efficacy.
The NEC also expressed its disappointment with the failure of the Governments to address the “Push” factors propelling brain drain which has led to the mass exodus of doctors and other health worker for greener pastures.
The NEC reiterated that unless drastic measures were deployed by Governments to stem the tide of brain drain, the already bad National Health indices may eventually spiral out of control thereby leaving Nigeria at the bottom rung among the comity of nations.
NEC also commended the Government of Delta state for being the first to start paying the new Hazard Allowance, as such it NEC directed the NOC to engage the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on the need to make amendment to the title of the Bill on Complementary, Alternative and traditional Medicine Board to reflect only African Traditional Medicine matters.
NEC further resolved to name her routine Medical Outreach after the unsung Heroine, Dr. Stella Adadevoh just as the NMA Medical Outreach Program shall henceforth be known as “Dr. Stella Adadevoh Memorial Medical Outreach” – Powered by The Nigerian Medical Association.
NEC also commiserated with the people of Funa Kaye on the loss of their Emir, His Royal Highness Alh. Muazu Mohammed Kwairanga while the meeting was preceded by several humanitarian, social and advocacy oriented activities including medical missions to Ashaka community, Bajoga community, and at Zainab Bulkachuwa Women and Children Hospital, Gombe,
The Association however expresses her gratitude to all who in several ways contributed to the planning and successful hosting of the “Gombe 2022 August NEC” notably; the Executive Governor of Gombe State.
