President Goodluck Jonathan promised
yesterday to end the doctors’ and university teachers’ strike.
The teachers’ is
over 90 days. Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
are also on strike. The professionals are blaming the government for failing to
meet up with the agreement reached with them.
Jonathan promised
to end the strike when he received the leaders of the Nigerian Medical
Association (NMA), led by its President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele.
Presidential
spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement on the meeting which reporters were
prevented from covering, said the President promised to do his all to resolve
all issues that caused disputes.
He said the
government attached great importance to the medical and educational sectors.
He said: “I believe
that we must manage both sectors in such a way that nobody engaged in them will
think of going on strike again.
“We will continue
to proactively evolve measures that will help us to permanently overcome the
problems that lead to strikes by health and education professionals,” he added.
To facilitate rapid
establishment of more centres of medical excellence in the country, President
Jonathan pledged that the Federal Government would fully explore the option of
creating a special intervention fund.
According to him,
the recommendation of a special fund that will give low interest loans for the
establishment of state-of-the-art medical facilities is a creative idea that
will receive appropriate consideration from the government.
He said: “We are
committed to working with professionals and the private sector to establish
better medical facilities in the country and reduce the number of Nigerians who
have to go abroad annually for medical reasons.”
Jonathan also
assured the doctors that his administration would create the right conditions
to enable doctors to stay at home and avail Nigerians of their acknowledged
skills and expertise instead of migrating to other countries.
He said his
administration was determined to correct the anomaly of Nigeria being so strong
in human capacity in medicine, with about 25,000 Nigerian medical consultants
currently practising in the United States , as confirmed to him by President
Barack Obama; and yet being unable to treat many of its sick people in its own
hospitals.
Jonathan said:
“There is clearly a missing link somewhere and we will do everything possible
to fix it. We will continue to work with professional bodies and all
stakeholders to come up with more policies and actions that will help us
overcome current challenges in our medical sector.
“We will work with
the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the National Health Bill.
We will take prompt action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria. We will also consider recommendations for the establishment of the
Office of Surgeon-General of the Federation.”
“I believe that we
must always do what is best for our country. We will review all the other
issues you have raised and act accordingly. When things are done properly,
issues of welfare and remuneration in the health sector will disappear,” the
President said.
Dr. Enabulele
assured President Jonathan of NMA’s support for his administration’s agenda.
He called for
urgent reconstitution of the main regulatory body in the health sector, the
Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria which was dissolved in 2011.
The NMA President
also called for faster action on the passage of the National Health Bill and
other issues related to the creation of a more conducive operating environment
for doctors and other healthcare professionals such as remuneration, welfare
and training.
The President was
decorated with the emblem of the NMA by Prof. Umaru Shehu.
The NMA delegation
included the Emir of Tsonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, the NMA Second Vice-President,
Dr. Uche Ojinmah and the NMA Secretary-General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu.
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