ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL AND PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (A GPMPN)FULL MEMBER OF THE WORLD ORGANISATION OF FAMILY DOCTORS (WONCA)

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 36TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE HELD AT THE RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AD TECHNOLOGY CONVOCATION ARENA, PORT HARCOUNT FROM 2ND TO 5TH APRIL, 2014 

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) successfully marked the 36" edition of her Annual International Scientific Conference/AGM in Port Harcourt between 2M and 5"'ofApril, 2014. The event was tagged 'GARDEN CITY 2014' and was honoured by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, whowas ably represented by the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu who declared the event open. Other dignitaries included Dr. Sampson Parker. Hon. Commissioner for Health, Rivers State who represented the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Mr. Echesi Eze, Executive Director, Ibeto Group stood in for the Chairman /CEO, Ibeto Group, Dr. Cletus M. Ibeto, CON, the Platinum Sponsor of the conference. The conference drew participants from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. The Andem Ewa memorial lecture, the 24'" in the series, captured global concerns by the conference theme: 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND HEALTH IN A DEVELOPING ECONOMY, a lecture scholarly delivered by the renowned Professor Nimi Dimkpa Briggs. The conference theme could not have been addressed on a better location in Nigeria than the Niger Delta Region given its peculiar environmental challenges. In his thought provoking lecture, Prof. Briggs concluded that: 

"protecting the environment should be everybody's business" "more so, as a protected environment supports and promotes the 

health of the community", and is a better platform from which everyone benefits'. 

TheAGM rose with the following resolutions: www.medicalworldnigeria.com

1. THE NATIONAL HEALTH BILL: The AGM commended the National Assembly for their insight and patriotism in passing the National Health Bill into Law. The general assembly of AGPMPN however drew the attention of the National Assembly and the general public to very serious concerns that could breach the Fundamental Human Rights of Nigerians under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria arid the Rights and Obligations of the Doctor under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Helsinki Declaration. Hence these sections should be amended: 

Sections 48 and 51 which dwell on organ transplantation did not spell out the explicit right of the donor to consent to any procedure.

This negates well established international principles of best practices where the informed consent of the patient must be sought. 

Section 13 of the Bill highlighted building and equipment standards while it was silent on quality of medical services, 

professional protocols and quality assurance regimens in the issuance of certificate of standard. The threat to close hospitals within 24 months from now based on building and equipment standards is unacceptable and must be revisited. It recommended a global, holistic consideration of the metrics in defining values for our hospitals. 

Section 20 of the bill recommends that every emergency must be received and treated by every hospital to which it is taken, whether private or public in consonance with the noble traditions of LIFE FIRST. This is commendable to the extent that the Bill must provide for a public fund to compensate for the care provided by private hospitals under the UNIVERSAL Health Insurance Scheme, 

Sections 43 and 45 do not offer job security for Nigerian public health workers during resolution of industrial disputes. 

THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA: The AGM joined forces with the Federal, State, Local' Governments and Local and International Partners in the fight against malaria. It applauded government on its introduction of the concept of DIAGNOSE EARLY FOR 

EFFECTIVE ACCURATE TREATMENT (DEFEAT) of malaria. It also commended the Ministry of Health in its campaign for the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), a project that applies the Malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (MRDT) in the treatment of marana. 

For professional and ethical reasons and for the health of the same population we seek to protect, the AGM rejected as unwholesome, unsafe and unacceptable the recommendation and practice of entrusting the implementation of this procedure and treatment of innocent and ignorant Nigerians into the hands of uniformed, unknowledgeable ad-hoc volunteers who are co-opted from the crowd. It reminded government that the fight against malaria must go on and must be won but can only be won when we deploy the right army and the right arsenals of war - Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and other trained professionals in the health profession. It therefore recommended that the training and operation be limited to already trained members of the health profession including Community Health Extension Workers. 

Further to this, it called on the Federal Government to improve infrastructure including power, security and entrench a beneficial welfare support scheme into our economy to not only stem the tide of professional brain drain in the health sector but encourage the reversal of brain drain. 

RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES FROM THE PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS: It called on the Hon.Minister of Health (HMOH) and the Federal 

Ministry of Health to, as a matter of urgency. publish a clarification as regards the current misconception and non acceptance by several Nigerian corporate, institutions, of medical reports/certificates issued by qualified, registered and licensed medical doctors who practice in government certified and approved private hospitals. We call on the HMOH to unequivocally state that such medical reports/certificates are as valid as those from government owned health facilities. 

ENHANCEMENT OF PRIVATE PRACTICE: The AGM reiterated its long sustained position that the gateway to our national development lies in the development of an internationally competitive health infrastructure and manpower development predicated on a people orientated health policies that provide for the followings and more: a. the establishment of a National Health Bank to provide soft loan facities to healthcare providers at single digit interest rate with long moretorium and tenure:

b. all duties on imported medical equipments and consumables should be immediately abolished; 

c. stringent measures be put on the arbitrary, often abused and unnecessary over-sea medical trips by Nigerians. 

TERRORISM IN THE LAND: The entire membership of AGPMPN wholeheartedly condemns the devilish activities of terrorists in the 

country. We denounce the unprecedented murder of innocent souls by deluded martyrdom seekers. We support the Federal Government of Nigeria to seek every resource from within and outside the country to stem this evil tide. 

NATIONAL ELECTION AND THE NEW OFFICERS: 

President - Dr. Frank O. Odafen, DMP 

1"Vice President - Dr. Tope Oyelade, FAGP 

2"'Vice President - Dr. Mrs. Olusola O. Ogunleye 

Secretary General - Dr.KayodeA.Adesola, FAGP 

Treasurer - Dr. Princewill Chike, FAGP 

P.R.O - Dr. Ugwu Iyke Odo, FAGP 

Asst.Sec.Gen. - Dr. EfikB. Mkpanam, FAGP 

Imm PastPresident - Dr.AnthonyAOmolola.DMP 

Imm PastSec.Gen. - Dr. Ernest Eze-Okoye, FAGP 

AGPMPN AWARDEES FOR 2014: 

The entire members of our great Association wish to congratulate all the special ones for year 2014 awards .. 

DISTINGUISHED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS (DMP) 

NAMES 

Dr. AKPAN Udeme Daniel - Akwa-Ibom 

Dr.IFEBI ErnestOkwudili - Anambra

Dr. ENABULELE Osayomwanbor Richard - Edo

Dr. AMUGO Oliver Oriaku Ojumonu - FCT

Dr. PHILIP Njemanze - Imo

Dr. ANAMEJE Chinwuba Felix - Lagos

Dr. DAKO Mamudu - Lagos 

Dr. OKWUOSA Nnamdi Chukwudozie - Lagos

Dr. AKPOVETA Isaac Omavuaye - Lagos

Dr. GBADEBO-SABAAdedayo Oyekunle - Ogun

Dr. ADERIBIGBE Tayelolu Olabamiji Peter - Oyo 

Dr. BERRY Remember Sunday - Rivers 

Dr. OBELE Princewill Olungweowin Sunny - Rivers 

B. FELLOW OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS (FAGP) 

NAMES  -  STATE 

Dr. ENWEREMADU Kingsley Ndubueze - Abia

Dr. OBICHUKWU Uzodinma Stephen - Anambra

Dr. ODJOH Samuel Ugbobor - Delta 

Dr. AKAHOMEN Julius Erara - Edo

Dr. ASOGWA Thaddeus Chukwurah - FCT 

Dr. OGUNMOLA Ebenezer Olorunsola - FCT 

Dr. MEJEHABartholomew Eberechukwu - Imo 

Dr. EZEAMAH Ndukwu Felix - Imo 

Dr. ORUNGBE Ijenwa Lucky - Kogi

Dr. NWIKE Joseph Uzodillma - Lagos 

Dr. AKINLADE BenedictAdedeji - Lagos 

Dr. AKINSANYAAdekunle Olarenwaju - Lagos 

Dr. FAGBEMI Leonard Adegboyega - Lagos 

Dr. DIKE Patrick Ifeanyi - Lagos 

Dr. ADEYEYE Olusegun Peter - Lagos 

Dr. FOLORUNSHOTitus Olusegun 

Dr. OGUNLUSI OlufemiAdeyemi.O 

C. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 

Dr. TADE, Adeyemo Oladipupo, DMP 

PATRON 

HRH EZE (DR) FRIDAY CHINYERE EZE, Eze Umuakpa II of Ekpeye land 

8. FUTUREAGPMPN CONFERENCE HOSTING STATES; 

2015  - OndoState 

2016 - FCT,Abuja 

2017  Osun State 

2018  Kogi State 

APPRECIATION: 

Our candidate appreciation goes to the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR, whose participation was felt through his representation by the Honourable Minister for Health. Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi. We also wish to express our gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Honorable Minister for Health, Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi, the State Commissioner for Health Dr. Sampson Parker, Prof. Nimi Dimkpa Briggs, our lecturer for the Andem Ewa lecture in 2014, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas and the NHIS team, numerous 

distinguished personlities, sponsors, advertiser and partners. A special thank you to all our members in Rivers State, who surmounted all challenges to successfully held the conference/AGM. May God preserve us all till we meet at the Sunshine Conference 2015 in Akure.

Signed 

Dr. Frank O. Odafen, DMP

President 

Kayode A. Adesola, FAGP

Secretary General

Dr. Ugwu Iyke Odo, FAGP

P.R.O