National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are
also on strike. The professionals are blaming the
government for failing to meet up with the agreement
reached with them.
Jonathan promised to end the strike when he received
the leaders of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
, led by its President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele.
Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, in a
statement on the meeting which reporters were
prevented from covering, said the President promised
to do his all to resolve all issues that caused disputes.
He said the government attached great importance to
the medical and educational sectors.
He said: “I believe that we must manage both sectors
in such a way that nobody engaged in them will think of
going on strike again.
“We will continue to proactively evolve measures that
will help us to permanently overcome the problems that
lead to strikes by health and education professionals,”
he added.
To facilitate rapid establishment of more centres of
medical excellence in the country, President Jonathan
pledged that the Federal Government would fully
explore the option of creating a special intervention
fund.
According to him, the recommendation of a special fund
that will give low interest loans for the establishment
of state-of-the-art medical facilities is a creative idea
that will receive appropriate consideration from the
government.
He said: “We are committed to working with
professionals and the private sector to establish
better medical facilities in the country and reduce the
number of Nigerians who have to go abroad annually for
medical reasons.”
Jonathan also assured the doctors that his
administration would create the right conditions to
enable doctors to stay at home and avail Nigerians of
their acknowledged skills and expertise instead of
migrating to other countries.
He said his administration was determined to correct
the anomaly of Nigeria being so strong in human
capacity in medicine, with about 25,000 Nigerian
medical consultants currently practising in the United
States , as confirmed to him by President Barack
Obama; and yet being unable to treat many of its sick
people in its own hospitals.
Jonathan said: “There is clearly a missing link
somewhere and we will do everything possible to fix it.
We will continue to work with professional bodies and
all stakeholders to come up with more policies and
actions that will help us overcome current challenges in
our medical sector.
“We will work with the National Assembly to ensure the
quick passage of the National Health Bill. We will take
prompt action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental
Council of Nigeria. We will also consider
recommendations for the establishment of the Office
of Surgeon-General of the Federation.”
“I believe that we must always do what is best for our
country. We will review all the other issues you have
raised and act accordingly. When things are done
properly, issues of welfare and remuneration in the
health sector will disappear,” the President said.
Dr. Enabulele assured President Jonathan of NMA’s
support for his administration’s agenda.
He called for urgent reconstitution of the main
regulatory body in the health sector, the Medical and
Dental Council of Nigeria which was dissolved in 2011.
The NMA President also called for faster action on the
passage of the National Health Bill and other issues
related to the creation of a more conducive operating
environment for doctors and other healthcare
professionals such as remuneration, welfare and
training.
The President was decorated with the emblem of the
NMA by Prof. Umaru Shehu.
The NMA delegation included the Emir of Tsonga, Dr.
Haliru Yahaya, the NMA Second Vice-President, Dr.
Uche Ojinmah and the NMA Secretary-General, Dr.
Akpufuoma Pemu.
Source: The Nation
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