Nigerian Medical Association Communique Issued at the End of the Virtual 60th Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting (AGC/ADM) on 30th May, 2020


Posted on: Mon 29-06-2020

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE VIRTUAL 60TH ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE AND DELEGATES MEETING (AGC/ADM) OF THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HELD ON 30TH MAY, 2020.

PREAMBLE 

The 60th Annual General Conference and Delegates meeting (AGC/ADM) of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was held online on Saturday, 30th May, 2020. The 60th AGC/ADM was previously slated to be hosted by NMA Plateau State Branch, Nigeria between 25th April and 2nd May, 2020. The theme of the ADM was "Nigeria and the Global Health Agenda 2030 Patient- Centered Care. The Sub - themes were "Emergency Medicine: Hand-on- Skills for Nigerian Doctors, Innovation in Medicine, Public Private Partnership: Opportunities for greater efficiency in the Nigerian Health Sector and Strengthening Medical Entrepreneurship: Opportunities for Nigerian Doctors. However, the current ravaging COVID-19 Pandemic and the attendant restriction of interstate movement and mass gatherings prevented the Association from holding the physical meeting in Jos, Plateau State, on earlier scheduled date. However, in deference to the constitutional requirements for the tenure of elected officers and to sustain the calendar of the Association, there was a collective decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) to adopt an earlier recommendation of the Committee of Past Presidents, for the organization of a virtual AGC/ADM. This was the first time in the history of NMA that a virtual AGC/ADM was held - A doctrine of necessity. The AGC/ADM was preceded by a virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Monday, 25th May, 2020. The Annual Delegates Meeting which was attended by 332 delegates from 36 NMA State Branches across the country and the NMA Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Branch , climaxed with the very successful elections into the National Officers' Committee of NMA for the 2020- 2022 Executive year.

OBSERVATIONS

1. The AGC/ADM noted that the World was facing the greatest health crisis in over a century, and since the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria on 27th February,2020 the number of confirmed cases had been on the increase. 

2. The AGC/ADM specially commended Medical Doctors and all other Health Workers in Nigeria for their efforts at containing the scourge of COVID-19 Pandemic in the country despite the very weak health system, inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), poor remuneration, and the overall shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. 

3. The AGC/ADM unequivocally condemned the non-implementation of the CONMESS circular for the payment of medical allowances accrued to all medically qualified Medical Doctors and Dentists in the employment of Nigerian Universities. 

4. The AGC/ADM expressed dismay on the failure of both the Federal and State Governments to effectively check security lapses and the rising incidence of kidnapping, banditry and killing of innocent Nigerians. Special reference was made to our members who were still being held by their abductors. 

5. The AGC/ADM commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for partnering with Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the provision of special fund for the development of the health sector in Nigeria. 

6. The AGC/ADM applauded the efforts of the NMA leadership led by Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile (2018- 2020) for settling all legal encumbrances on the NMA Land in Abuja, mobilizing Nigerian doctors to contribute financially towards the building of a befitting NMA National Secretariat and the successful ground-breaking ceremony and Foundation Laying of the Multi Billion Naira NMA House held on Wednesday, 27th May, 2020.

7. The AGC/ADM congratulated Prof. Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, FNMA, mni a distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, newly appointed Vice- Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo , Benue State and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) on his historic election and installation as the new President of Nigerian Medical Association for 2020- 2022 Executive Year. 

The following officers were elected to run the affairs of the Association for the net two (2) years (2020-2022) Prof. Innocent A.O.Ujah FNMA, mni (President), Prof. Rasaaq Ayodele Adebayo (First Vice-President), Dr. Daiyabu Alhaji Ibrahim (Second Vice-President), Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe (Secretary-General), Dr. Saliu Olugbenga Oseni (Deputy Secretary-General), Dr. Eric Azuka Anazodo (the National Treasurer), Dr. Pobe Degri Jauro (National Financial Secretary), Dr. Aniekeme Aniefiok Uwah JP (National Publicity Secretary). 

RESOLUTIONS 

1. The AGC/ADM implored all Nigerian doctors, the Federal and State Governments and all stakeholders, to sustain the present momentum and commitment towards the containment of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

2. The AGC/ADM urged Governments at all levels to provide robust palliatives for Nigerians and to increase capacity and capability of health workers, to ramp up population testing which is a reliable "barometer to predict community prevalence and transmission. 

3. The AGC/ADM strongly demanded the implementation of special risk allowance and insurance cover for all health workers at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, and the Private Sector 

4. The AGC/ADM implored the Federal Government to always consider the extant laws regulating the practice of Medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8, 2004 laws of Federation of Nigeria and to consult with Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), before granting approvals for foreigners before they can be allowed to manage any patient in Nigeria. 

5. The AGC/ADM restated her call on the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to direct all the Vice-Chancellors to immediately adopt the revised CONMESS circular for the payment of all allowances for all doctors in the employment of the Universities. 

6. The AGC/ADM further restated her earlier call on the Abia State Government to pay doctors and other health workers their accrued salaries, without further delay. The AGC/ADM also called on the Managements of all health facilities in the country to stop casualization of Medical and Dental Practitioners as this was contrary to relevant labour laws of engagement.

7. The AGC/ADM adopted the various recommendations of the NMA National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) as follows: 

  1. The indefinite suspension of Dr.Awkadigwe Fredrick Ikenna from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). 
  2. The lifting of the suspension order placed on Dr. Abdullahl Alfa, with his re-integrated back into NMA Kaduna State Branch. 
  3. The lifting of the suspension order on Dr. Waziri Garba Dahlru, with all his rights and privileges as a member of NMA Kaduna State Branch restored forthwith. 

The State Officers Committee of Kaduna State Branch of NMA was directed to formally withdraw the letters written to Dr. Waziri Dahiru with an apology letter tendered to him. Dr. Waziri Garba Dahlru on the other hand was mandated to formally apologize to the Secretary of Kaduna State Branch of NMA, Dr. Ifeanyi Aghadi Kene, with submission of evidence of withdrawal of his private legal suit against Dr. Ifeanyi Aghadi Kene, to the NMA National Secretariat in Abuja. 

8. The AGC/ADM affirmed the confidence of the NMA in the ability of Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi as the International President of the Medical Women International Association (MWIA) to surpass past records in the administration of the Association and pledged to accord her the needed support to fly the flag of the (MWIA) to an amiable height as a Nigerian. 

9. The AGC/ADM directed the NMA NOC 2020- 2022 to strengthen the on-going bilateral and multi-lateral understanding between the NMA and other health professional bodies and further use the template to reach out to other professional associations in the health sector to ensure a lasting inter-professional harmony.

10. The AGC/ADM resolved to build a befitting NMA HOUSE in Abuja and appealed to Government at all levels, Philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support this lofty project. 

11. The AGC/ ADM directed the NMA NOC for 2020- 2022 to implement the various recommendations from the 2nd National Health Summit as well as the Committee for NMA National Games on the various ways of improving Nigeria Health Outcomes and Indices, and ensuring improved NMA National Games in the future. 

12. The AGC/DC implored the newly installed President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and other members of the NOC, to be good ambassadors of the Association and the Medical Profession as they take charge of the affairs of NMA in the next two years. 

APPRECIATION:

The Nigerian Medical Association was immensely grateful to the following: Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Health & Human Services; Hon. (Dr.) Yusuf Tanko Sununu for his invaluable contribution to Healthcare in Nigeria, President of the Commonwealth Medical Association and Past President Nigerian Medical Association Dr. Osahon Enabulele, all Past Presidents of NMA, 2018-2020 NMA NOC led by Dr. Francis A. Faduyile, all the Chairmen of NMA State Branches & FCT , and the entirety of all Nigerian Doctors.

Signed:

Prof. (Dr.) Innocent A. O. Ujah, FNMA, mni

President 

Dr. Phillips U. Ekpe 

Secretary-General