Posted on: Thu 11-02-2021

THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (MDCAN) VIRTUAL NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD FROM 27TH – 29TH JANUARY 2021 HOSTED BY THE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL COMPLEX (OAUTHC) ILE IFE, CHAPTER COMMUNIQUE 

PREAMBLE:

The Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) held virtually in line with Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) COVID-19 protocols from 27th to 29th of January 2021. The theme of the conference was "The Medical Consultant: Intra and Post Pandemic Era". The subtheme was "COM 19 Vaccines: The Science, Myth and Realities'. The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Prof. M.O. Durosinmi (the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Eko Atlantic University, Lagos). The Special Guest of Honour was the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University. Ile- k, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede while Prof. Victor Adeboye Adetiloye, the Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi  Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile lie, was the Chief Host. The Guest lecture was delivered by Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, the Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences Ondo State, while Prof. Morenike tkpang delivered the lecture on the sub-theme. The NEC meeting which was attended by over two hundred (200 delegates from various branches across the length and breadth of the country deliberated on numerous issues germane to health care delivery in contemporary Nigeria as well as the welfare of members. In the course of the meeting. NEC observed as follows: 

1. With dismay the failure of many Nigerians to adhere to the non-pharmaceutical methods of COVID-19 prevention as espoused by relevant bodes including the NCDC and the Presidential Task Force. This is despite the ragine second wave of the disease and the emergence of newer and deadlier strains of the organism with greater infectivity and mortality. 
2. With satisfaction the efforts of the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with vaccines against COVID-19, the prior public sensitization which has carried along relevant stakeholders and the prioritization of frontline health workers for the vaccine.
3. That the security situation across the nation has deteriorated considerably in the past few months. Virtually every part of the country is embroiled in one form of insecurity or the other, from banditry and insurgency to the recently increasing spate of kidnapping in practically all parts of the country. That this poor state of insecurity is partly responsible for our inability to hold our meeting physically in Ile Ife, aside from the current second wave of COVID-19. We note that the general insecurity has not spared our members as we have continued to receive reports of kidnap and attacks on health workers across the country including on hospital premises. It is observed that the porous state of hospital security cannot be divorced from the inability of government to pay for outsourced services including security. 
4. The removal and subsequent replacement of the service Chiefs is a most welcome development. 
5. The unfortunate termination of the Vice Chancellor (VC) selection process at the Lagos state University when it was obvious that a Medical Fellowship holder stood in the clear lead. The unsavoury attack on the Fellowship by a faceless publications emanating from that institution was also noted. NEC noted too, the continuing hostility to the Fellowship and its holders by individuals at LASU and the other Universities across the country. 
6. NEC noted with alarm the very high rate of emigration of Nigeria's highly trained medical and health manpower to greener pastures. The failure of government to recognise the nexus between this massive brain drain and the COVID-19 recovery efforts in destination countries is most worrisome. NFC notes that while these countries have put in place measures to recover their health systems, Including boosting personnel by luring our members with lucrative conditions of service, the Nigerian government has not put in place any serious measure to retain these highly skilled manpower. The link between the dilapidated state of the economy, poor remuneration, inadequate health infrastructure/equipment and highly volatile security situation are also factors forcing doctors to emigrate. It is worthy of note that this brain drain also constitutes a terrible drain on Nigeria's economy as huge amounts of taxpayers money is invested in training these doctors.
7. With frustration the failure of relevant arms of government: to remunerate doctors employed in the university system fairly. The situation whereby our members do two full time jobs only to be paid a combined enolument that is less than that of one job is highly regrettable and utterly unacceptable. Equally regrettable is the lack of will among relevant authorities in government to correct this anomaly despite years of engagement. NEC observed with regret that all peaceful efforts at rapprochement have proven to be unqualified failures. 

After a very exhaustive and robust deliberations. NEC came to the following resolutions: 

1. Once again cautions all Nigerians to endeavour to company with all the non-pharmaceutical measures put in place for the prevention of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus especially as advocated by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. Both governmental and non-governmental agencies are urged to lead by example, and minimise opportunities for physical contact in their activities, especially where electronic and online platforms will suffice. The imperative for personal responsibility by individuals, is even more urgent now than ever. 
2. NEC commends the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH). the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other agencies on the effort to provide vaccines for Nigerians MDCAN hereby strongly lends its voice in encouraging the general public to accept the vaccines once available, as the benefits far outweigh any perceived risk. While we urge government to ensure equity in the distribution of the vaccines, we also warn that government must remain mindful not to unduly divert attention and resources from other disease conditions, both infectious and non-infectious, afflicting the Nigerian public, some of which have proven over time, to exact a much heavier toll in terms of morbidity and mortality, than the present pandemic. 
3. The current security challenges in Niger a threatens the very fabric of our existence and should be a cause for concern for all well meaning Nigerians. Its ravages afflict all sectors of Nigerian life including the economy, food security, commerce, education, health, etc. The current brain drain that has increased exponentially in recent times is also partly fuelled by the need to flee this insecurity. Government must therefore be more proactive in its approach to confronting these security challenges. The community Policing initiative is laudable, but more needs to be done to decentralise security, and to further empower communities to take more responsibility for their protection. we call on the FM0H, The Federal Ministry of Finance and all other relevant agencies of government to as a matter of urgency ensure the clearance of arrears owed for the outsourced services in Federal Tertiary Health Institutions especially security. The operatives of some of these companies, who are paid very meagre salaries, have been owed for months or years. This state of affairs not only diminishes their fidelity at work, but actually turns some of them into security risks as they may become prone to inducement into criminal activity, especially within the hospital. 
4. The removal and replacement of the Service Chiefs is laudable, however the entire security apparatchik of the country needs to be rejigged and new strategies and approaches infused into the war against criminality. The new helmsmen are urged to justify the confidence reposes in them by thinking outside the box, and to greater deploy technology and intelligence in the pursuit of the task of securing the country.
5. While NEC condemns the cancellation of the VC selection process in Lagos state University, we wish to state that we will not tolerate any situation where any of our members is disenfranchised on the basis of non-possession of PhD. We cannot be employed on the basis of our fellowship and law have the goal post changed to PhD, especially against the backdrop of the poorly compensated quality that we bring to the university system in the production of highly sought-after doctors both at the undergraduate and post graduate levels, nationally and internationally. 
6. NEC calls on the Nigerian government to recognize the massive exodus of highly qualified health manpower, trained at the expense of the Nigerian people's money, as the national emergency that it is. The interplay of several factors including the economy, insecurity, facilities and job satisfaction in promoting this brain drain needs to be recognised. The time has come for government to begin to take active steps to examine the problem and advance solutions, or risk imminent collapse of the already fragile health system. A good starting point is increased health system funding and appropriate remuneration of personnel, with particular attention to the workplace environment, including safety and comfort of patients and personnel. We also reiterate the need to elevate the retirement age of doctors upwards as has been done for Judges, Lecturers and most recently, Teachers. It simply does not make sense to continue to retire such highly experienced personnel at the current age of 60, when our health sector is facing a monumental crisis occasioned by previously poor indices, a ravaging pandemic and an unmitigated brain drain simultaneously. 
7. It is obvious that government is not willing m have a peaceful resolution to the perennial problem of Clinical lecturers who have endured an absurd and punitive remuneration system that has left them short-changed over the past several years. This category of workers function as full-time lecturers in universities and full time consultants in teaching hospitals, yet have a combined take home pay that is less than that of a consultant. All entreaties for the correction of this injurious anomaly have fallen on deaf ears in different government quarters. Our patience has been stretched to the I mit. We have initiated processes at the chapter levels across the country that will commence our exploration of other options available to us, and we regret that we may not be able to avert a disruption in services in the universities aid possibly teething hospitals across the country, in the very near future. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

MDCAN expresses her profound appreciation lo the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Eko Atlantic University, Lagos and Chairman of our Opening Ceremony, Prof. M.O. Durosinmi, Special Guest of Honour and Vice Chancellor of Obafemi  Awolowo University. Prof. E ogunbodede, our Chief Host and Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Prof V. A. Adetiloye, our Guest Lecturer and Vice Chancellor. University of Medical Sciences Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Paths', and Prof. Morenike Ukpong who delivered the lecture on the sub-theme as well as other dignitaries who graced the Occasion. On behalf of the entire membership of MDCAN, the National Officers' Committee (NOC) expresses our gratitude to the Obafemi  Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Chapter of our Association, the LOC as well as the management of the OAUTHC for the efforts that went into hosting this event. We also greatly appreciate our members across the country for their flexibility in adapting to the electronic format and patiently remaining logged on for severe hours each day in deference to the constraints imposed by the peculiar situation we find ourselves in. 

Thank you for your attention.

Signed:

Prof. Ken Ozoilo

President 

Dr. Chingle M.P

Secretary General 

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