Posted on: Sat 21-11-2015

On behalf of the State Officer’s Committee  (SOC), State Executive Council  (SEC), and the entire members of the NAGGMDP, Akwa Ibom State branch, I welcome you to this press conference. The theme of this press conference is tagged ‘BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.’

APPRECIATION
First and foremost, on behalf of the Association, I wish to humbly express my sincere gratitude to the government of Akwa Ibom State, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, for his magnanimity in approving the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure  (CONMESS) circular with effect from 1st June 2015 for Medical/Dental Practitioners in Akwa Ibom State government employ after four (4) years of agitation, which started in 2011, after the circular was released in September 2009.

It is worthy of note that despite the delay, throughout the four (4) years of our agitation, we never went on strike nor disrupted the delivery of health care services in the various health facilities. This is because the health of our PATIENTS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR FIRST CONSIDERATION.

We are hopeful that with the prompt release of the CONMESS circular by the Department of Establishment, the full implementation will commence soon.
In as much as we long for a smooth and cordial relationship with the government and most importantly to sustain the promotion of an efficient and effective health care delivery in the state, it is pertinent and apt to bring to your attention some issues that are inimical to the smooth health care delivery system in the state. This is pertinent as it has been generating a lot of unrest amongst the Medical/Dental Practitioners in government employ, greatly dampening their morale and zeal for service.

As a very responsible association that is fully conscious and aware of your government’s desire to improve the health care delivery system, we assure you of our strong commitment and support to your government and desires your success so that you can leave indelible footprints on the sands of time. Be that as it may, we will not fail to tell you the truth: ALL IS NOT WELL IN THE HEALTH SECTOR!

We wish to humbly notify His Excellency, the governor of Akwa Ibom State and the chief proponent of the #Dakada Initiative, that some Akwa Ibomites cannot “Dakada” due to some critical issues of urgent importance which include the following:

1. NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES TO THE NEWLY EMPLOYED MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOY AND THE NEWLY-RECRUITED HOUSE OFFICERS IN OUR THREE (3) GROUP REFERRAL HOSPITALS.

When a worker is engaged, the payment of salaries should naturally be taken for granted but this is not the case, and it is really discouraging and distressing. In as much as the Association appreciates the employment of these workers into the state work force to boost her medical man power to meet the needs of this critical sector, the current scenario where these highly skilled manpower have not been paid their salaries since their employment more than a year ago is defeating the aim of these noble and laudable objectives.

We humbly appeal that this situation be addressed promptly because:

a) A worker is entitled to his wages (Luke 10vs7)

b) A Medical/Dental Practitioner needs to be well-motivated to have the right psyche and frame of mind to carry out both major procedures (Cesarean Section, Laparotomy, etc) and minor procedures (Incision/Drainage, suturing of wounds from road traffic accidents, etc) to save lives.

c) The newly-employed Medical/Dental Practitioners are facing a lot of hardship and suffering; and the indignity of the non-payment of their salaries for over a year now has really bruised their psyche and self-esteem

d) The newly-employed Medical/Dental Practitioners face lots of difficulty going to work, meeting personal domestic needs and even feeding. Lest we forget, “a hungry man is an angry man.” Therefore, we can’t afford to allow a doctor to be angry and expect excellent health outcome at the sane time.

e) The untold hardship being faced by these newly-employed Medical/Dental Practitioners as a result of non-payment of their emoluments is better imagined than explained. For example, a doctor who slipped and sustained a shoulder dislocation in the course of duty at one of the secondary health facilities, is finding it extremely financially difficult obtaining treatment. Very sadly too, a doctor just lost his mother to cervical cancer because he lacked the money for her to continue with her chemotherapy, having exhausted his savings. On 2/11/15, one of these newly-employed doctors was involved in a road traffic accident while on a commercial motorcycle to work, resulting in multiple rib fractures. As I am addressing you now, the doctor is struggling to pay his medical bills.

2. THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM
The entire health care delivery system could adversely be affected in the following ways:

a) The current scenario could lead to a brain drain of this highly needed manpower

b) The current scenario could adversely affect the ongoing housemanship program in the 3 group referral hospitals in Eket, Oron and Ikot Ekpene, where housemanship had started after so many years.

c) The current scenario is capable of promoting and increasing the trend of malpractice and misconducts in the professional setting, that the government has been battling to curtail.
d) This scenario is capable of worsening our state health indices which are not very impressive presently

e) This scenario is capable of increasing the morbidity and mortality rate in the state.

PRAYER
In view of the above, we humbly and respectfully request His Excellency, the government of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel; in the spirit of the Dakada Initiative, to use his good office and disposition to the Medical/Dental Practitioners to direct the payment of the salaries of these newly-employed Medical/Dental Practitioners to reduce and alleviate their pains, hardships, sufferings and frustrations; and also save the health care delivery system from further decay before IT IS TOO LATE.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is our hope that our amiable and doctor-loving governor will grant our request so as to enhance the health care delivery in our dear state and sustain the harmonious working relationship between the Medical/Dental Practitioners in government employ and the government itself.

Once again, we assure you and your administration of our unflinching loyalty and support to succeed and deliver the highly needed dividends of democracy to our people especially in meeting their health care needs.”

---

---