6th September, 2018
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ( NEC) MEETING HELD AT THE GRAND ATLANTIS EVENTS CENTRE, OSOGBO, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA FROM 26TH AUGUST TO 1ST SEPTEMBER , 2018 .
Preamble
The National Executive Council meeting of Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) held at the Grand Atlantis Events Centre, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria between 26th August 2018 and 1st September, 2018. The theme of the conference was “Alma –Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care: Nigeria Scorecard 40 Years After’’ The subthemes are Stemming the Tide of Brain Drain in the Nigeria Health Sector: The Role of Well Equipped Hospitals and Healthcare Workers’ Welfare; Combating Quackery in Medical Practice and NMA Strategic Plan.
The event was declared open by His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of Osun State represented by Dr. Olugbenga Oyinlola. The Keynote Speaker, Prof. I.F Adewole, Hon. Minister of Health delivered the theme lecture with Dr. E.A Ajayi, CMD Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido- Ekiti, Ekiti State who represented the Honourable Minister.
The NEC was preceded by a two day medical mission to Ara Village in Egbedore Local Government Area, Osun State where four hundred and twenty-nine (429) patients with varied medical conditions were offered free medical consultations and treatments including free laboratory tests.
The NEC meeting also featured a very successful Town Hall meeting, and Interactive Session with six Gubernatorial Candidates at the forthcoming Governorship Election in the Osun State, on setting agenda for Health in Osun State . The meeting also featured a panel discussion on Survival Strategies for Medical Practitioners in the Face of the Present Economic Reality.
OBSERVATIONS
The NEC observed that:
1. Nigeria has made tremendous progress in the implementation of the Local Government Area - focused Primary Health Care infrastructure but fragmentation (with respect to provision of services, management of staff, funds, and other resources) has been the most significant problem facing the country’s Primary Health Care implementation.
2. Poor hospital infrastructure/equipment and environment, inadequate social amenities in the country, poor remuneration and devalued national currency are major causes of brain drain.
3. Medical quackery has brought untold hardships to many Nigerians, in term of complications sequel to this unhealthy care.
4. The NMA five years National Strategic Plan will re-position the Nigerian Health Systems as a responsive and efficient health system that works.
5. The NEC expressed great displeasure with the failure of the Federal Government despite repeated appeals to re-constitute Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Council, over three years after its dissolution. NEC also noted that, the act setting up MDCN reiterated that “the council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession’’.
6. The overtly provocative statements by political gladiators, could heat up the polity and can degenerate into conflicts and is particularly worrisome in the face of weak health system as we gradually approach the 2019 general elections.
7. The NEC applauded the Federal Government of Nigeria for launching the Nigeria’s first Patients’ Bill of Rights to protect the vulnerable Nigerians.
8. The National Health Summit organized by NMA, took place in 2013 and the next edition of the National Health Summit would be organized in the 1st quarter of 2019.
9. Federal and some State Governments are determined in implementing the proposed new minimum wage commencing from September, 2018.
10. The National Officers’ Committee led by Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, is resolute in the quest towards building a befitting National Secretariat and Doctors’ Village in Abuja.
RESOLUTIONS
1. There is need for government at all levels to ensure that the various funds voted to finance the Primary Health Care in Nigeria are judiciously managed especially, from the approved and appropriated Consolidated Revenue Fund in National Health Act.
2. The government should take appropriate steps at improving the infrastructure, social amenities and the economy. The improvement of salaries of health professionals and improved welfare conditions for all healthcare workers’ in Nigeria as compared with those in the in America, Europe and Canada. These are the major factors that will mitigate against the on-going brain drain in the Nigeria’s health sector and enhance retention of our health personnel.
3. The NEC reaffirmed her resolution on the use of Doctors’ stamp as an anti- quackery measure. The public should insist on Doctors’ stamp on their medical reports.
4. The NEC commended the NMA President , Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile and the National Officers’ Committee for the sequential implementation of the NMA National Strategic Plan (NSP)- 2017 - 2021.
5. The NEC called on the Federal Government to immediately re-constitute the Council of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The NEC also directed the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) to approach the court of law to seek for the interpretation of the statement “the Council shall be a body corporate in with perpetual succession” as clearly stated in the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8. The NOC is further directed to take all necessary actions to ensure the Federal Government sets up the MDCN council on or before the 30th September, 2018 being 10 weeks after the declaration of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari that the MDCN Council shall be constituted soon.
6. The NEC appealed to all politicians to play politics without rancor and bitterness. The NEC also admonished the Law enforcement agents to demonstrate unambiguous loyalty to the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
7. The NEC resolved to support the implementation of Patients’ Bill of Rights recently launched by the Federal Government of Nigeria. However, NEC admonished the Federal Government to also consider the introduction of Healthcare Workers’ Bill of Rights.
8. NMA is committed to organizing the 2nd National Health Summit in the first quarter of 2019.
9. The NEC commended the Federal and some State Governments for their efforts and determination in implementing the proposed new minimum wage commencing from September, 2018. The NEC directed the NOC to closely monitor the implementation of the new minimum wage salary package for all-inclusiveness in application.
10. The NEC strongly condemned the action of Nigerian Police Force ( NPF) in the criminalization of doctors at General Hospital, Garki, Abuja that attended to the late Miss Angela Igwetu, a National Youth Service Corp member allegedly shot dead on 4th July,2018 by Inspector Benjamin Peter in Abuja.
11. The NEC appealed to all Nigerian doctors in Nigeria and the diaspora, government at all levels, philanthropists and well- meaning Nigerians, to support the lofty project of building a befitting NMA National Secretariat and Doctors’ Village in Abuja.
APPRECIATION
The Nigerian Medical Association is immensely grateful to the following:
His Excellency , Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola , Executive Governor of Osun State , Honourable Minister of Health , Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, National Chairman, West African College of Physicians ( Nigeria Chapter) , Prof. Abel Onunu, Registrar , Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria ( MDCN), Dr. T.A.B Sanusi, Immediate Past NMA President, Prof. Mike Ozovehe Ogirima, Vice- Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Victor Adetiloye, Chief Medical Director, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Wale Lasisi, Honourable Commissioner of Health, Osun State, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladapo Olagunoye, Alie of Ilie, Osun State, Special appreciation to the Local Organising Committee led by Dr. O. T Olajumoke and State Officers Committee of NMA Osun State.
Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile (NMA PRESIDENT) Dr. Odusote Peter Olumuyiwa (NMA SECRETARY-GENERAL)