Gynaecologists under the aegis of Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria have canvassed for the empolyment of competent professional as healthcare providers to reduce the spate of strikes in the health sector.

The group was reacting to the lastest strike called by the Nigerian Medical Association Over alleged breach of agreement reached with the Federal Govenment on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors.

The organisation also expressed concern over the high incidence of cervical cancer in Nigeria with a call on government to introduce regular cervical screening and examinations to detect conditions during their early stages.

The National President of SOGON, Dr. fred Achem, said this in an exclusive inerveiw with Saturday Punch in Abuja after presenting a communique of the group's 47th Annual Gneral Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Lagos with the theme: "Family planning & Devepment in Nigeria."

According to him, for doctors to work, they need facilities to work while patients are needed to improve the quality of training and the surgical competence of doctors.

Achem said, "If the situation is such that patients are not coming 

to teaching hospitals again and thereby denying numbers that are needed to effectively acquire professional surgical competence, the professional must complain.

"A minimum number of patients is needed to train a surgeon to do appendicitis and caesarian section. If they are not coming to teaching hospitals, they have to complain. If they complain and government continues ti sweep it under the carpet, they have to continue complaining. We need responsible professionals as healthcare providers and managers of the healthcare system. We need a holistic assessment of ourselves as policy makers", he stressed 

Achem said it had come to a point where everbody recognises doctors as people on essential services and therefore listen to them adding, :there would be a continuous dialogue betwwen doctors ans 

government."