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COVID-19: NMA warns Nigerians of second wave
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA , today warned of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country as Nigerians show flagrant disregard for Federal Government’s prevention protocols.
The NMA President Professor Innocent Ujah at a press conference today in Abuja on the communique issued at the Awka , Anambra State NEC meeting today in Abuja said that the second wave of the pandemic is coming as a result of disregard for non pharmaceutical prevention protocols warning efforts of containment of the scourge.
The association appealed to Nigerians to take the COVID-19 prevention advisories very seriously in order to interrupt the transmission and reduce the I’ll health and deaths from the dreaded disease.” The strict adherence to the NCDC Protocol of use of face mask , regular hand washing and use of sanitizers and social as well as physical distancing is very strongly advocated. Non essential travels should not be embarked upon especially during this Yuletide season and beyond.”
The NMA said it is also worried over the brain drain by Frontline health workers at this critical time. The association bemoaned the incessant spate of emigration of highly trained Nigerian doctors and other health care professionals to greener pastures ( brain drain) at a time when their services are critically needed in Nigeria, observing further that efforts at engaging these Nationals have not yielded results.”
The NMA further lamented the continual practice of medical tourism by privileged Nigerians and urged the Federal Government to establish the National Health Bank to help fast – track the infrastructure, procurement of the state of the equipment that will provide world class health care for Nigerians and reverse medical tourism.
December 14, 2020
Kogi NMA Applauds Health Minister of state for Reopening FMC, Lokoja.
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The chairman of Kogi state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Oyiguh S.Omakoj on Sunday in Lokoja commended the Minister of state for Health, Senator Mamora Olorunibe for his efforts towards the reopening of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja that was shut down 6months ago.
In a statement signed by the state chairman of the NMA, Dr Oyiguh S.Omakoji and his secretary, Dr Fomotele Tolorunju and made available to journalists in Lokoja, the Association expressed the joy of its members over the Minister’s, bold steps which had allowed voice of reason to prevail and effect the decision of reopening the health institution.
“We wish to thankfully express the joy of our members to you that the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja is finally opened to receive patients. and we appreciate all your efforts in ensuring a peaceful resolution of the impasse that resulted in the closure of the institution”, the statement stressed.
NMA noted that the members of the association in the FMC have also expressed their joy for the opportunity given them to attend promotion interview for this year, and stressed that members were eagerly waiting for the embargo on shutdown of the facility to be lifted, as they are in high spirit to resume work and offer their services to benefit of the patients.
The NMA therefore stated that “with this heartwarming, unlocking order of the FMC facility by the minister will give members of the Association at the Centre the opportunity to offer services that will bring smiles to the faces of patients”.
The workers of the medical institution were seen clearing their premises and dusting off their equipment on Friday in readiness to open their facility to the members of the public as from Monday 30th November.
The federal government owned Medical Center in Lokoja was shut down 6months ago when hoodlums suspected to be sponsored thugs invaded the facility, vandalised their equipment and carted away some valuables of the hospital.
November 29, 2020
Insecurity: NMA Cries Out, As Gunmen Abducts Medical Doctor Again In Kogi
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman of Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Omakoji Oyiguh has cried out to Kogi state government and the security Stakeholders to join hands in rescuing Dr. Azubuike Joel Iheanacho who was abducted on Saturday evening to an unknown destination.
Dr. Iheanacho, a Medical Director of Peace Hospital, Anyigba in Dekina local government area, was abducted on Saturday evening by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
This was contained in a statement signed by the State NMA chairman, Dr. Omakoji Oyiguh and his Secretary, Dr Famotele Tolorunju, after an emergency meeting of the Association on Sunday, and made available to journalists in Lokoja.
The Association said that the yet to be identified gunmen stormed Dr Azubuike residence between 9.00 to 9.30pm on Saturday 21st November and Whisked him to an unknown destination.
According to the statement by the NMA, the abducted Doctor was in a vehicle with another man and his wife at the front of his house when the kidnappers that were armed to the teeth struck and ordered the other two occupants out of the car and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
“Dr Azubuike Joel Iheanacho was kidnapped in front of his house at Anyigba in Dekina Local government area of Kogi State.
However, he said the Association has reported the ugly incident to the security agencies and the State government for intervention that will lead to the rescue of their abducted member immediately.
It would be recalled that two of their members, Dr Ebiloma Yahaya Aduku of Zonal hospital, Ankpa and Dr Kelechi Mgbahurike of Christ the king Hospital Anyigba were abducted on 6th October by kidnappers, but were later released after intervention of the security agencies.
November 23, 2020
BREAKING: NMA direct its members to stop work as another medical doctor got kidnapped in Calabar
Nigeria Medical Association NMA in Cross River State have directed it members to down tools until one of their members, Dr. Godwin Udo is set free by his kidnappers.
Chairman of NMA in the state Dr. Innocent Abang told newsmen at the NUJ Press Center that medical doctors have been severally targeted by kidnappers who have been having a field day in their evil act in the state.
He explained that Dr Godwin Udo, of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital UCTH, was kidnapped on Sunday, November 1, 2020 at his residence in Bateba Street about 7pm.
He noted that it is irreconcilable that despite the 6pm to 6am curfew imposed on the state by the state governor, kidnappers can operate freely, driving through several security check points put in place in line with the curfew.
The NMA chief noted that the decision to down tools was taken in an emergency meeting on Wednesday, adding that because of the number of times doctors have been kidnapped in the state, decision was taken to down tools anytime it occurs again.
He called on the state government to step up her commitment to the security of life and property in the state as the records of kidnapping in the state has gotten out of hand.
Dr. Abang confirmed that the kidnappers have called a relative of the victim to demand for ransom in millions of naira.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Irene Ugbo, confirmed that the abduction of the Dr Godwin Udo by hoodlums, but said the command is working round the clock to track down the abductors.
November 4, 2020
Looting, burning of health facilities endangers health of Nigerians- NMA
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has condemned the burning of health facilities, looting and vandalisation of medical and hospital supplies , consumables and vaccines by hoodlums seeking COVID- 19 palliatives. In a press statement signed by the NMA President, Professor Innocent Uja and the Secretary, Dr. Phillips Uche Ekpe, the association described attacks on health facilities as barbaric, primitive and wanton destruction capable of endangering the health of Nigerians and an irredeemable negative impact on the health system which may have long term effects on human being s and the environment. The association said, ” we were shocked at the magnitude of the reported looting and vandalisation of of health facilities , hospital equipment, vaccines , drugs and consumables as well as the assaults on our members who were in line of duty in Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta, Edo, Cross River , Kaduna, Nasarawa and Ekiti States.” “The unfortunate action by the hoodlums will further weaken the delivery of health services as Nigeria continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in an already near comatose health system and will certainly be a setback on our country’s dearie to achieve the Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. “The NMA further called on those who looted the medicaments and hospital equipment to return them as some can be harmful to the human body. It noted that the vaccines carted away are meant to prevent diseases but that action by the hoodlums may lead to a resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases. It therefore urged those in possession of the looted vaccines to return them to health facilities for revalidation for possible use, adding that no attack on any health facility and personnel is tolerated in any civilized society.
The association appealed to protesters and hoodlums to stop further destructions of health facilities and urged security agency’s need to strengthen their efforts in protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
November 4, 2020
NMA calls for release of 15% health budget allocation to ameliorate poor state of healthcare
By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
As Nigerian doctors mark the 2020 Physicians’ Week, the Nigerian Association of Medical Doctors, NMA, have called for full release of the Abuja Declaration 15% health budget allocation commitment by the Nigerian government.
The NMA President, Professor Innocent Ujah made this call at a conference to Mark the 2020 Physicians’ Week in Lagos.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic in the last eight months in the country has highlighted the urgent need for the full release of 15% health budget allocation in the 2020 budget instead of the 4.16% released.
According to the NMA the COVID-19 pandemic in the country has further revealed acute storages of critical and life saving equipment such as ventilator and intensive care beds in hospitals.
“Dire shortages of medical capacity has further out a spotlight on the poor state of the healthcare in Nigeria.”
The association further noted that there are still some gaps to be covered to ensure that health care is affordable and accessible to all citizens for Universal Health Coverage, UHC, to be achieved.
The NMA said that 16 doctors as front line healthcare workers have so far died since the COVID-19 appeared in Nigeria while performing their duties.
” As at 18th October 2020, 1,031 doctors who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria and 321 confirmed cases, sadly 16 ( mortality rate of 4.98%) of our members were painfully lost in the battle to save the lives of Nigerian. “
The 2020 Physicians’ Week is marked by a weeklong of activities to celebrate members for contributing to effective health service delivery and health research in the country and also to use the opportunity to review events in the sector in the last 12 months.
This year’s celebration with the theme: ” Strategy for health system recovery during COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria” with the sub theme : “Dental cares, thee four -printed fork”, is in line with the prevailing COVID-19 ravaging Nigeria and the other countries.
October 23, 2020
NMA lauds members for peaceful elections
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed delight over the success of its election of state officers throughout the country this month.
A statement from the National Publicity Secretary of the association Dr Aniekeme Uwah in Uyo yesterday said election of State Officers Committee were successfully concluded in 35 out of the 36 states in the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Except for the elections in Enugu state which was disrupted,the season of elections which have been generally adjudged as peaceful, credible, free and fair has been brought to an end with Abia state conducting their’s most recently.
It said that the enthusiasm showed by officers was an indication that the welfare and protection of the name and integrity of the medical professional remained uppermost in the minds of the medical doctors.
“You may recall that the electioneering season was unveiled with the successful conduct of elections by the Anambra State branch of the Association on the 26th of June, 2020.
“This was followed by peaceful conduct of elections in the other states except for very minor skirmishes in one of the states in the South South zone and disruptions in the Enugu State branch elections on the 6th of August, 2020.
“Furthermore, with an electoral success outcome of 97.3 % in the just concluded NMA Elections across the 36 state branches and the FCT, which is unprecedented in the recent history of our Association, NMA has shown that the Association will continue to uphold and protect the inalienable rights of our members to a free and fair election.
“The just concluded elections are clear demonstrations of our collective resolve to stick together as *Hippocratic brothers and sisters* to uphold the integrity of our noble profession and Association despite our divergent political leanings and ideologies.’
The Association commended the invaluable roles played by the immediate past Chairmen in the 35 state branches and the FCT in ensuring a smooth and seamless transition to their successors.
“Lastly, the remarkable success recorded in the just concluded elections are indeed a very propitious outcome for all members and the Association under the able leadership of Dr Innocent Ujah.” It said.
August 23, 2020
Enugu NMA election turns bloody
The crisis that engulfed the Enugu State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) took rather a dangerous dimension on Thursday evening as the much-advertised election of the body turned bloody.
Some members of the association who gathered at the Michael Okpara square for the election suffered serious injuries from thugs who invaded the venue allegedly sponsored by a faction of the body.
The thugs, numbering over thirty, had stormed the venue with dangerous weapons while voting was going on and started destroying chairs, tables and canopies among other objects being used for the election.
They upturned the ballot boxes and pounced on members of the electoral committee leading to the doctors scampering to safety for fear of losing their lives.
While some sustained injuries while trying to escape from the hired thugs led by a fraction of the members, others including the NMA chairman in the state, Dr Ike Okwesili were thoroughly beaten.
Okwesili’s whereabouts remained unknown since after the attack. His phone lines were inaccessible just as one of the doctors declared ” we hope he is fine where ever he maybe because he was brutalised.”
The policemen who were drafted to the venue of the election had hectic time preventing major casualties. In the process to control the crowd and send people away from the venue, they also dealt with serious blows on the members.
Trouble had started by the alleged insistence of some resident doctors drawn from the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT), Parklane, to participate in the exercise against rules barring them from doing so by their failure to update their membership financially.
The Okwesili led executive was said to have insisted that the rules must be followed in the election. The affected members were said to have regrouped when the election had gone midway and began to destroy things with their hired thugs.
It could be recalled that members of the same group had a few weeks ago, announced that they had suspended the NMA chairman over alleged constitutional breaches.
August 7, 2020
NMA laments as Nigeria losses 3 doctors, 1 nurse to Coronavirus
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
President of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr Francis Dayo Faduyile has lamented the death of three doctors and one nurse to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
Faduyile today reacting to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, on the trend of reports the virus said that Nigeria soon will hit the 1000th figure of 40 doctors and other healthcare workers who have tested positive.
He however disclosed that that contrary to Media reports none of the infected healthcare workers or those that died contracted the disease at an isolation and treatment center, but in general public and private health facilities while treating patients many of who refused to disclose important or nformation that would have increased the suspicion and facilitate. early diagnosis of COVID-19.
The NMA president further called on VIPs who are refusing to report and be admitted at isolation and treatment centers for treatment but rather prefer to stay at other non accredited facilities to comply with medical directives.
He said, ” The Association perceives that by continued refusal to adhere to instructions, some citizens have vowed to make healthcare workers very vulnerable to contracting the disease.“
The association further appealed to government to expedite action on distribution of PPEs to both public and private facilities without delay
It also admonished all healthcare workers across the country not to consider everybody presenting at the hospital for any ailment as potential COVID-19 patient until proved otherwise.
April 27, 2020
NMA urges NASS to enact national cancer policy law
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), has urged the National Assembly (NASS), to enact a law on the formulation of policies on cancer to help curb spread of the scourge in Nigeria.
Dr Francis Faduyile, the President of NMA, said this during an advocacy visit to the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Yusuf Sununu, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Faduyile pleaded with the national assembly to pursue a bill that would create a policy that would help patients suffering from the disease and also drive sensitisation on preventive measures.
He said that the policy was expected to give patients the right to diagnosis and access to treatment in the National Health Act.
The NMA president said that cancer had continued to ravage Nigerians because they lacked access to early diagnosis and treatment.
He further urged the lawmakers to help in the inclusion of cancer treatment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), noting that cancer care remained the most expensive in the country.
He, however, lauded the National Assembly for initiating a bill on health service delivery, stating that the current legislators had so many great bills on healthcare to their credit.
Responding, Sununu, noted that the concerns raised by the NMA leadership on cancer were genuine, assuring the association that the current NASS would tackle all the issues through the enactment of appropriate laws.
The chairman, who recalled how he lost his father to the dreaded disease, said: “I know how extensive it is and it is something that needs serious attention.”
He called on stakeholders to come up with suggestions on how to help tackle the scourge, noting that preventive measures remained the most effective in curbing the menace.
Sununu disclosed that a bill for the registration of a cancer care centre in the country, had already been presented in the House, and called on NMA to partner with NASS to ensure the success of the bill.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that today is World Cancer Day with the theme; “I am and I will for cancer Day”
February 4, 2020