Posted on: Wed 08-05-2024

PREAMBLE:

The 46th International Scientific Conference tagged "NIGER 2024", had a well-attended Pre- Conference MEDICAL OUTREACH event at TRADOC Community Center, Minna.

‘The theme of the Conference, the yearly Andem Ewa lecture, was “TRANSFORMING HEALTH IN THE DIGITAL AGE: INNOVATIONS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES" and was delivered by that erudite scholar, DR. BAAMLONG NICHOLAS DABBOER,

Sub-themes were:

• PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND STRESS: THE TOXIC EFFECT ON LIFE EXPECTANCY OF PRACTITIONERS AND MITIGATING STRATEGIES, BY DR PEMEMAYOWA
• INCREASING NUMBER OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CASES IN MEDICAL PRACTICE: REMOATE AND IMMEDIATE ATTRIBUTABLE CAUSES BY DR UCHENDU IFEDILICHUKWU UZOEGE
• PANEL DISCUSSION ON ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BRAIN DRAIN BY THE FOLLOWING:

DR FRANK ODAFEN,

DR RAYMOND NWIKE AND

DR PRINCE SURAJUDEEDN OYENUGA

The event was graciously honoured by the presence of the following dignitaries to whom we are eternally grateful:

• His Excellency, Dr MUAZU BABANGIDA ALIFYU, PHD. the former Executive Governor of Niger State as the Chairman of the occasion
• The Royal Father of the day, Emir of Minna, ALHAJ] UMAR FAROUQ BAHAGO, represented by the Hakimi of Bosso.
• The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr MUHAMMAD ALI PATE, represented by DR ABUBAKAR USMAN, CMD, Federal Medical Centre, Bida.
• The Honorable Commissioner for Niger State Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr TUKUR BELLO TUKUR.
• The President, of Nigeria Medical Association, DR UCHE R. OJINMAH accompanied by the NMA Secretary General. Dr. Jide Onyekwuelu and the National Publicity Secretary, Prof Jeremiah Israel.
• THE MDCAN National President, PROF. MUHAMMAD AMINU GWARZO and the Secretary-General, Dr. DAYYABU MUIIAMMAD
• The Chairman, Niger State, Nigeria Medical Association, DR YUSUF MUHAMMAD and other dignitaries.

OBSERVATIONS:  

• Rapidly increasing high cost of running and maintaining healthcare facilities due to high cost, of energy supply and drugs.  
• Some provisions of the law on the Treatment of Gunshot Wounds and Medical Emergencies as draconian and anti-Private Practice
• The Health Insurance as being implemented today is not sustainable, The Private Healthcare Facilities are presently subsidizing the scheme rather than benefiting from it.  
• The Role of Digital Technology in Private Practice cannot be over-emphasized.
• We commend the Federal Government for inaugurating a 20-man Committee for the Implementation of the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHJ) but the largest group of Healthcare Providers which are Private Practitioners was left out as has become a tradition.
• The planning incidence of higher death rate amongst Private Medical Practitioners compared to the General Public is of serious concern.
• The Burnout Syndrome as a result of excessive social pressure on Private Practitioners is compromising our practices.
• The adverse effect of Multiple Taxation on Private Practice is making Healthcare Service Delivery more challenging and expensive to practitioners and patients.
• The Increasing Incidence of Mental Health Disorders in recent times is of concern to Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners.

RESOLUTIONS:

• There is the need for the Government to establish a Health bank for easy access to *SINGLEDIGIT* *LOANS* to Healthcare Providers. This will serve as a catalyst towards a quicker achievement of the rather elusive Universal Health Coverage.
• We call on the Government especially the legislative arm, to revisit the law on Compulsory Treatment of Gunshot Injuries/Emergencies with the intention of making it more practicable. We don't need draconian laws before performing our duties. Government should rather augment the efforts of the Practitioners by ensuring we are paid our dues as enshrined in the law of the country.
• There is a need to jump-start the implementation of the law establishing the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), especially in the area of payment to attending healthcare facilities.
• The Association shall not continue to guarantee her members, the Healthcare Providers, continuing to treat all patients registered under NHIA, if an *URGENT REVIEWS of the "TARIFFS" is not done "WITHIN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS".
• We call on our dependable and hardworking President and father. ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, and all our leaders to prevail on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to create “a SPECIAL HEALTH SECTOR* “ELECTRICITY TARIFF which will serve as a well-deserved "SUBSIDY " to every Health Facility in Nigeria. Energy is life to Health facilities and the current billing will adversely affect the act of health care delivery if not mitigated.
• Representatives of Private Medical Practitioners should be part of policy formulation and implementation in NHIA.
• There is a need to involve ANPMP member (the Private Affiliate of NMA) in the Federal Government's Committee on the Implementation of Nigeria *Digital Health Initiative (NDHI).*
• All Medical Doctors are again reminded of the need to prioritize their health thus ensuring Quality Healthcare Delivery.
• Members are called upon to start building Group Practices so as to reduce effects of chronic stress in their medical practice.
• We remind all organs of Government involved with taxation and levies that hospitals are purely non-commercial and should be treated as such. The taxation of Private Medical Practitioners must reflect the Humanitarian Services we render.
• We recommend the inclusion of treatment of Mental Health disorders in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
• In as much as the Government is encouraged to improve on the General security in the country, special attention should be given to the Healthcare Facilities.
• We commiserate with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Anned Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara and all Nigerians especially the people of Rivers State over the decent Scary Eleme Fire Disaster. May we never witness another of such.

AWARDS:

DISTINGUISHED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS (DMP) AWARD:

• DR IKPAREN ABRAHAM NYIANISHIMA = BENUE STATE
• DR ADEMOLU ADEGBENGA BOLANLE LAGOS STATE
• DR OJO MICHAEL ABIODUN - OYO STATE
• DR ADENIYI ADEDAPO ABAYOMI, OYO STATE

FELLOWSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL PRACTICE (FAGP):

• DR UZEGBU SYVANUS MARTIN CHINENYE ABIA
• DRUGWEKE MOSES - ANAMBRA
• DR ADIBE FRANCIS — CROSS RIVER
• DR OJO SIKIRU OLUBAYO = LAGOS
• DR EWA BASSEY EKANG ~ LAGOS
• DR OLUSOLA OLU WASEUN OMOLARA = LAGOS
• DR SAMUEL ELEOJO OYIBO - NASSARAWA
• DR MUONEME ANTHONY NWACHUKWU - NIGER

ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2024/2026 OFFICERS:

• President: Kay A.Adesola,FAGP
• 1st Vice President:Dr.Emest Chukwumma, DMP
• 2nd Vice President:Dr.O.Saliu
• Secretary General:Dr.G.D.Adebiyi, DMP
• Assist.Sec Gen:Dr.Gbenga ,Eweoya
• Treasurer :Dr Sylva Ezievuo, FAGP
• Nat.Soc/Welfare Sceretary:Dr. Emma Ohaka, DMP
• IPP:Amb.Dr.lyke Odo, DMP
• IPSG:Dr.Ned Okoro FAGP
• WLO: Dr.O.Olusola,FAGP
• Editor:DrJide Onyekwelu.

CONCLUSION:

We thank the dignitaries who graced the Conference events, the ANPMP Niger State Chairman, Dr. Edison Okoric and the Local Organizing Committee members and all the ANPMP members including our beautiful spouses ably led by Mrs. Olubukola Adesola, who ignored all the rumours of insecurity to honour the uplifting of our great Association. You are all the heroes and heroines of the Conference.

 

SIGNED:

Kay A. Adesola, FAGP - President

Dr. Ned Okoro, FAGP - Immediate Past Sec Gen

Dr. Gbadebo Adebiyi, DMP - Secretary General

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