Medical Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association are in a frenzy to mobilize colleagues and gather facts to butress their points at a public hearing organized by the house of representatives on the 16th of july 2014.

 

In a confidential mail sent to its members, SOGON, Nigerian Cardiac Society, Orthopaedic surgeons and ASSOPON, consultant clinical microbiologist/parasitologist and infectious diseases physician Dr Kenneth Iregbu wrote that:

 

"This is an opportunity for both the Nigerian Society for Haematology and ASSOPON to properly brief the leadership of the NMA national on the DANGERS of establishing Postgrad College for laboratory scientist. This is because in a few years they will be brandishing fellowship which they will claim is equal to both the West African and National Postgraduate Fellowships and thus they should be appointed consultants. 

 

He fears that "This will be followed by National Postgraduate college of Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Optometry e.t c. He however advised that "our arguments against this should include:

 

1. They are TECHNICAL cadre staff and do not need any Postgraduate qualification, Even if they do they can go for MSc and PhD which are already exiting in Nigerian Universities

 

2. The Cost implication to government will be unbearable as they will request that their trainees be employed and paid Just like resident doctors www.medicalworldnigeria.com

 

concrete suggestions on what should be our defence at the HOR and all suggestions should be sent directly to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and NOT to any groupmail (whether ASSOPON or NMA or MDCAN). In addition SOGON, PAN, Psychiatrists Association, Family Physicians, MDCAN, an all other affiliates of NMA and all other professionals associations should make submissions so that they can speak at the public hearing. 

 

We should all be prepared for a MASS movement to the National Assembly.

 

Please contact NMA Sec Gen, VP-1 or the undersigned for

further enquiries

Dr Kenneth C. Iregbu MBBS, MSc, MPH, FMCPath, FWACP (Lab Med)

Consultant Clinical Microbiologist/Parasitologist & Infectious Diseases Physician

National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria

234- 805 493 2992