The beginning of this month of August was a very prayerful one for many a Nigerian student, at least those who believed that even God can mediate between ASUU and our (...) federal government. ASUU, we had heard was set to embark on yet another strike; while the memory of last year's six-month postponement of the destinies of millions of (the poor man's) children is yet hard to forget! Except it was not felt by any of the people that matter, since their own children are in the recently popularised, yet thoroughfare-resistant, "other climes" that the average Nigerian cannot visit or school his seed in.
ASUU is however not the villain of this tale; after all, we all protest in our own ways. From the neonate that would not quiet until fed or rocked, to the child that would either go out with his mother or be pacified with a token, to the adolescent that grumbles away his reticence or unbelief, to the wife that will not yield in that precious moment of the night, to the husband that threatens to not pay the lazy or ill-performing child's fees come next term; we all protest in our own little ways. Always. And we deserve to. All of us. All.
Now factor in a government that is only responsive to force: strike and violence, as against protests (that are quickly disbanded by the police or the army, or usurped by some sponsored heads), roundtable discussions (that head nowhere more often than not) and agreements (that are not fulfilled in specified time, unless of course force smells). A government that cannot find its own money, or America's, since the money is even in Dollars. A government that believes it is our turn for insurgent terrorism, and can pay one billion naira for violence but not for healthcare or education or youth empowerment.
But now that Doctors have finally exhausted the bridge of patience and set foot on that popular land everyone else visits more often than they dare care to admit, the former must be shouted down, loathed, and sacked. Are they slaves? Like the rest of us, the Doctor wants his pay revised as they often do who often fatten off the rest of us in the name of governance, and often so. The Doctor wants his efforts to be appreciated, like he does who shares national honours around so he may (be able to) dance himself to his demise as they praise him who have dug a pit in his path and concealed it with mattings. The Doctor wants his workplace to be safe, conducive and healthily comparable to what is obtainable in "other climes", and wants modernisation to aid his speed and accuracy, and lessen his trouble. Can one truthfully say he has asked for too much?
And as if their height of hypocrisy is that of the Buhj Al-Arab, it is said that he diverts patients. Yet, the nurse runs her own clinic, the pharmacist has a clinic behind his shop, as the others also do whom I must not mention lest they have my head– diabolically. Why then is it that only the Doctor (is said to) divert patients? Could it be a ploy to shut him down seeing as he is the only one legally authorised to open clinics and hospitals? Or... Do the proprietors of private schools and universities also divert students? Do operators of public transport in Lagos State likewise divert passengers from the BRT? Ironically, none of these people illegally setting up clinics will allow the Doctor to encroach on their territory!
Matters arising...
Doctors are on strike to protest salary irregularities, hazard pittance in the name of allowance, and encroachment by those I again must not mention. (Mo sá fún-un yín tó o!) Who wouldn't have? Is 5 000 naira per month incentive enough to confront Ebola in all its incurability? SEE, The Eyes of MEDUSA.
Abegi, forget nano-urànkàn; nano-something. And the government after cajoling them (with partial agreements) and blackmailing them (with unsolicited announcement of the end of their strike) has finally 'terminated' the appointments of a great percentage of them, some 16 000, because they fail to yield to cajoling, blackmail and temporary agreements. Would you? from this our (...) government? Na today?
Still, the NMA is fighting for a healthcare system that works, that our politicians will be proud of enough to quit spending our commonwealth on medical tourism in "other climes", that will be able to save every life that can be saved anywhere else, even US, UK, India, South Africa, and wherever else they loot our money to.. The NMA is fighting the proliferation of death centres in the name of cheap alternatives to hospitals. Despite the shortcomings, and outright failings in playing the victim-politics and winning public sympathies as successfully as her detractors are, the NMA is working to preserve lives resident in Nigeria, including those of her own members, by attending to the casualties of bomb blasts and contributing to the fight against Ebola, despite the ongoing strike.
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
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