Communique/Press Briefing at the end of the Nigerian Medical Association Lagos State Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2015 Held at the West Town Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday 11th September, 2015

 

UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE 

That the theme of the AGM which centered on "Mandatory Health Insurance: A Vital KeyTo Achieving Universal Health Coverage"was well discussed, and all participants agreed that the National Health Insurance Scheme has not achieved its objectives, as a lot of Nigerians do not still have access to decent and affordable healthcare, thereby calling on the Federal Government to urgently carry out necessary reforms in the health sector to achieve universal health coverage that will benefit all Nigerians. 

 

PRESIDENT BUHARI AND STATE OF THE NATION 

The anti-corruption efforts of the current administration of President Muhammad Buhari was highly commended, and the Federal Government was advised to formulate policies that will ensure that political office holders are prevented from seeking medical care overseas, as a means of making them more committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and manpower development that will translate to developing the health sector in Nigeria in all its ramifications. The participants also appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to holistically look at issues of trade dispute and settlements in the health sector and indeed all other sectors with all sense of sincerity and purpose to ensure a lasting solution to issues of incessant strike actions precipitated by failure of government to implement agreements reached with workers in the health sector. 

 

GOVERNOR AMBODE'S EXCELLENT RESOLUTION OF LAGOS DOCTORS ISSUES 

The meeting also appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his demonstration of supportforthe Hippocraticfamilywithin a few months of his leadership by moving swiftly to resolve the issues of withheld salaries, casualization, victimizatiorr, non-employment of resident doctors, amidst other issues, thereby representing a sharp departure from the previous government of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola that orchestrated an unending crisis in the health sector for almost 8 years. 

 

The house resolved to continue to give its full/unalloyed support to the Governor in as much as he remains steadfast and progressive towards good governance. The co-operation of the state government was also sought in the implementation of Revised CONMESS Salary Scale for doctors in the employment of Lagos State so as to bring them at par with their colleagues in the Federal Institutions. 

 

NMA LAGOS STATE HOUSE 

The participants lamented the fact that the NMA Lagos State over the years has been unable to acquire its own house for offiCial, recreational and other related purposes. The passion and efforts of the current leadership of the association (under the chairmanship of Dr. Tope Ojo) towards acquiring the NMA Lagos House was commended, and it was resolved that a Board of Trustees comprising 7 members of the association be set up to co-ordinate the activities towards realizing the project. 

Dr. Tope Ojo (Chairman, NMA Lagos State) was subsequently appointed by the meeting as the Chairman of the "NMA Lagos House Project Board of Trustees: 

 

 

MENACE OF QUACKERY 

On the issue of quackery within the health sector, the meeting noted that the menace of quackery and its attendant effects remains unacceptable to all and appealed to the Lagos State Government to collaborate with the statutory Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)/Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) State Monitoring committee thereby creating a synergy with HEFAMAA to rid the state of quacks in the interest of the good people of Lagos State and indeed Nigeria. . 

 

FEDERAL NEURO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL YABA CRISIS 

The meeting also noted that the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba (FNPHY) has for some months now been unfortunately engulfed in a crisis of succession for the office of the incumbent Medical Director, Dr. Lawai R. A. due to the following: 

i.  The institution has witnessed a lot of crisis relating to staff welfare, security and emolument issues for which the workers have been persistently restive, resulting in incessant strike actions. 

ii. Contention about the eligibility of the current Medical Director, (Dr. lawai R. A.) to continue in same office since he is over the mandatory exit age of 60 years. 

iii. The current imbroglio and strike action of all health workers (JOHESU, MDCAN etc) is particularly made worse by the fact that similar contention as above preceded the exit of the former Medical Director (Dr. Ladapo H.T.O.) of the FNPHY some years ago for which the current Medical Director (Dr. Lawai R. A.) led a revolt that led to the removal of Dr. ladapo H.T.O. from office, before he (Dr. lawai R. A.) assumed the position of Medical Director. 

iv. The current strike embarked upon by the workers of the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba is solely to ensure the termination of the tenure of Dr. Lawai R.A. 

 

It was therefore unanimously resolved at the meeting that the current Medical Director; Dr. lawai R. A. steps down immediately to make way for the process of appointing a new Medical Director in the interestof all stakeholders in the institution and in the interest of numerous Nigerians that the FNPHY serves, failure of which the NMA will use all means possible to ensure that this is achieved. 

 

This position has since been communicated to the hospital management at a meeting of the NMA Lagos State Past Chairmen/Elders team with the Medical Director (on Monday 14th September 2015 at the FNPHY). This position has also' been communicated to the MD and management of the FNPHY in writing. 

 

LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL(LUTH) ISSUE 

The meeting also noted that the Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital (LUTH) which is supposedly one of the foremost tertiary institutions in the country has unfortunately in the recent past been bedeviled by incessant strike actions and various disputes between the management and workers, particularly the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) LUTH. These predicaments have escalated since the tenure of the current Chief Medical Director, Prof. Bode Chris. 

 

The institution have witnessed the use of legitimate institution security agents to harass and intimidate workers, the most recent being the physical attack on one Dr. Okunade K. S., a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, his children and pregnant wife in his residence within the LUTH premises at about 1:00am (midnight) on the 28th August, 2015 (for whatever reasons), a case that is currently being investigated by the State Security Services (SSS). 

 

The LUTH management apart from non-payment of arrears of various emoluments of doctors, such as examination fee, update course fee, promotion arrears, etc has also being frustrating some associations,the recent being the stoppage of the legitimately deducted union dues payable to the doctors association by their members (ARD LUTH). 

 

The AGM thereby noted that these observations cast doubt on the competence of the current head of the institution, and hence call on the Federal Government to institute an inquiry in the institution (LUTH) before endless/avoidable crisis ensues. In the light of the draconian rule of Prof. Chris Bode and coupled with the fact that he has attained the mandatory retirement age of 60years, it was resolved that the Federal Government should ensure the replacement of Prof. Chris with immediate  effect to avert needless crisis and attendant loss of lives. 

 

COMMENDING OTHER HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN LAGOS STATE 

The AGM noted and commended the leadership/management of all other health institutions in the state that have maintained industrial peace thus far thereby ensuring smooth healthcare delivery in their centers. 

 

In conclusion, the meeting resolved that there should be continuous collaboration and co-operation among all workers and groups within the health sector and that they eschew all forms of rivalry and Rivisive tendencies, thereby forming a strong force and presenting a common front to the government in agitating for the development of the health sector in our country to reach enviable heights. 

 

Thank you. 

 

LONG LIVE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION! 

LONG LIVE LAGOS STATE! 

LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA! 

 

Signed

Dr. Tope Ojo

Chairman