Posted on: Wed 06-02-2019

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING

HELD FROM 30^TH JANUARY TO 3^RD FEBRUARY 2019

AT THE GOMBE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, GOMBE, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA.

PREAMBLE

The MDCAN National Executive Council meeting was held from the 30th January to the 3rd February, 2019 at the Gombe International Hotel, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria. The theme of the meeting was "INSURGENCY: Implications on National Health Indices" while the sub-theme was "Clinical Governance: A tool for Improving Medical Services in Nigeria.

The Special Guest of honour, Executive Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Talban Gombe) and the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Hon. Charles Iliya JP (Danruwatau Tangale) were both represented by Honourable Commissioner for Health, Gombe State, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya. The Royal Father of the day was the Emir of Gombe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Abubakar  Shehu  Abubakar III, who was represented by Alhaji  Inuwa  Lamido (lyan Gombe). The Guest of Honour was the Vice Chancellor of Gombe State University, Prof. Ibrahim Musa Umar who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Gombe State University, Prof. Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty, who was also the Guest Speaker. The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Idris Mohammed, Dan Nan Gombe, former Chief Medical Director (CMD), UMTH, Maiduguri while Dr. Yahaya Alkali, the CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe was the Chief Host.

The Lecture on the theme was delivered by Prof. Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty while that on the subtheme was delivered by Dr. Abubakar  Saidu, former CMD, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.

The NEC meeting which was attended by 127 delegates from 61 Chapters of the association across the length and breadth of the country deliberated on numerous issues of utmost importance to health care delivery in the country and general well-being of Nigerians.

During the meeting, the NEC observed as follows:

1.    The continued commendable effort of the federal government to combat insecurity in the country.

2.    That the general elections are just a few days away and the campaigns across the country have been relatively peaceful with only few cases of violence.

3.    The continued presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their plight in the camps in different parts of the country.

4.    The regrettable loss of lives from the current outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country and the efforts of governments at both Federal and State levels to contain the outbreak.

5.    That members of the association are determined to improve their conduct and professionalism with the aim of providing global standard health care services to Nigerians.

6.   The continuous encroachment on medical practice by non-medical practitioners with attendant grave danger for the health and general well-being of Nigerians.

7.    That majority of her members have been enrolled on the IPPIS platform, and commended the agencies of government for this. However, continued challenges being faced in obtaining the appropriate emoluments of her               members were also noted.

8.    The continued challenges being faced by her members in the employment of some State Governments while acknowledging modest improvements.

9.    That the lingering strike action by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has adverse consequences on Nigeria's tertiary education and medical education in particular.

10. The need for her members to fully embrace professional indemnity, group life and group travel insurance schemes.

After extensive and in-depth deliberations, the NEC came to the following resolutions:

RESOLUTIONS:

1.    MDCAN commiserates with the families who have lost loved ones to the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak. MDCAN wishes those currently undergoing treatment speedy and full recovery. The association and her members are ever ready to partner with the Government in the effort being made to contain the outbreak and find a permanent solution to this challenge. Nigerians are also urged to take appropriate preventive measures.

2.    MDCAN is committed to working with Federal and State Governments to provide the enabling environment for her members to render world class medical care to Nigerians, who deserve nothing less. We urge other members of the health team to key into this project for the ultimate benefit of the patient.

3.    All lawful measures will continue to be taken to protect the medical profession and members of the association in the journey towards entrenching global standard of medical care in the country.

4.    Chapters are directed to engage their hospital management with a view to resolving any outstanding challenges in payment of emoluments to members occasioned by the migration to IPPIS platform.

5.    State Governments are urged to take steps to ensure payment of outstanding emoluments to our members in their employ in order to facilitate continued provision of safe and reliable health care services to the citizens of their states. It is also of utmost importance that doctors in their employ are remunerated on the appropriate CONMESS.

6.    Members are urged to key into the group travel, group life insurance and professional indemnity schemes that have been initiated by the association.

7.    MDCAN appeals to the appropriate agencies of Federal Government to intensify effort to ensure speedy resolution of the issues in contention to bring to an end the current strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the interest of the Nation.

8.    MDCAN will continue to render humanitarian services and assistance to IDPs in various camps across the country.

9.    MDCAN calls on all political actors and their supporters to ensure that their activities before, during and after the general elections do not breach the peace in the country. We urge Nigerians to be vigilant and security conscious. We look forward to a peaceful, credible and violence -free elections in the coming weeks.

APPRECIATION:

We wish to thank the Executive Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Talban Gombe), Gombe State Government, the Emir of Gombe, HRH Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, the CMD Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr. Yahaya Alkali, Vice Chancellor, Gombe State University, Prof Ibrahim Musa Umar, the CMD Abubakar Tarawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Dr Mohammed Alkali, the MD Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Prof Auwal Mohammad Abubakar, the MD Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Dr. Abubakar Musa, the CMD University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Prof Ahmed Ahidjo, Federal College of Education Technical, Gombe, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe for their contributions towards the successful hosting of this NEC meeting.

 

Prof. Ngim E. Ngim                                                 Dr. Affiorg Ibanga

President                                                                 Secretary General

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