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Health

JOHESU strike: Patients complain of intimidation at FMC Makurdi

JOHESU strike: Patients complain of intimidation at FMC Makurdi
ByEmmanuel Antswen
Commotion
Makurdi, May 24, 2018 (NAN) Patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, on Thursday complained of alleged intimidation by members and officials of striking Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in Benue.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was commotion and panic around the main entrance of the hospital following attempts by the union to enforce total compliance to their protracted strike.
The report said that patients, some health workers and passersby were caught in the commotion, which lasted for about half an hour before it was calmed.
According to the report, attempts by JOHESU officials to stop their members from reporting to work caused the commotion.
The commotion led to traffic build-up, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic along Atiku Abubakar Road directly in front of the hospital.
Some union officials were heard issuing verbal threats of physical assault to members bent on reporting to work just as some of the patients and relatives said they were also prevented from entering the hospital.

One of the officials (name withheld) was heard threatening a member “If you enter here I will beat you; try now let’s see” at the entrance.
One of the patients, Mrs Rose Audu, said she was shocked at the commotion at the hospital gate, and described it as “embarrassing”.
Audu admitted that she was harassed by the officials who thought she was a health worker.
She, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to quickly resolve the contending issues to allow the health workers resume work.
Addressing journalists at the scene, the state Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr Dennis Nyam, said they would continue with the strike until their demands were met.
He explained that the union leadership was on a monitoring exercise in all the hospitals to enforce compliance and was determined to ensure 100 per cent compliance.
Also speaking on the development, the Head of Clinical Services, FMC, Dr Paulinus Abu, said the management was working with the police to ensure maintenance of law and order.
He regretted that despite all entreaties, the JOHESU members in the state had remained adamant and were recalcitrant on going ahead with the strike.
He said owing to the location of the hospital, the strike needed to be handled with utmost maturity to prevent miscreants taking advantage of it to wreck havoc on the community.
NAN, however, reports that a detachment of police officers were sighted within the vicinity of the hospital to forestall any breakdown of law and order. (NAN)
AEB/PD/MST
Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FMC Makurdi to commence dialysis services Jan. 11 – MD

FMC Makurdi to commence dialysis services Jan. 11 – MD
NAN-H-11
By Emmanuel Antswen
Dialysis
Makurdi, Jan. 4, 2018 (NAN) Dr Peteru Inunduh, the Managing Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, on Thursday said the centre would commenced dialysis services on Jan. 11.
Inunduh disclosed this in Makurdi during the test run and training of staff to man the dialysis machines, the construction of endoscopy suites and delivery of the colonoscope and gastroscope machines.
A gastroscope is a long flexible telescope about the thickness of the index finger, with a bright light at its tip used to look directly into the gullet (oesophagus), stomach and the first part of the small bowel (duodenum) during gastroscopy.
The second procedure after a gastroscopy is called a colonoscopy. This is an examination of the large bowel (colon).
The colonoscope is also a long flexible telescope about the thickness of the index finger with a bright light at its tip, which is carefully passed through the bottom (anus) to the caecum and the end of the small intestine
The instruments used for these procedures are endoscopes.
He said that the 2017 dialysis model procured from Germany would be ready for usage from next week, adding that the centre had never offered dialysis services in the 30 years of its existence.
“We haven’t rendered dialysis services at FMC in the last 30 years and these machines will be ready next week for usage,’’ he reiterated.
The managing director said that the hospital was now “wearing a new face’’ while taking delivery of the colonoscope and gastroscope machines.
He said that the theatre complex and mortuary building at the permanent site would be completed in February, while the accident and emergency unit at Tongov Outreach Centre were being roofed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no hospital in Benue offers dialysis services currently. (NAN)
AEB/COF/MST
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FMC Makurdi engages NMA over strike

FMC Makurdi engages NMA over strike
NAN-H-11
Dialogue
By Emmanuel Antswen
Makurdi, Oct. 25, 2017 (NAN) The Management of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, has commenced discussion with striking members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Peteru Inunduh, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Wednesday.
Inunduh said that series of consultations were ongoing between the management and NMA affiliates at the centre to end the industrial action.
He said that all issues raised by the striking doctors were attended to even before the commencement of the strike on Oct. 11.
He said the issues leading to the strike were similar issues to those of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU).
He added that the issue was already been addressed by the Federal Government.
The medical director said that he was not aware of any dispute with the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and NARD at FMC.
He added that the management was in the process of implementing all the recent agreements reached with federal government.
However, Dr Obekpa Obekpa, the state Chairman of NMA, told newsmen that the Benue Government and the management of FMC were yet to contact them.
“Since the beginning of the indefinite strike, the Benue State Government and Management of FMC, Makurdi, have not invited us for any negotiation.
“This strike has clearly shown the insensitivity of the stakeholders to the plight of the masses.
“This strike has revealed lack of transparency from the stakeholders, it has also revealed leadership gap.
“So, since our demands are genuine for the effective healthcare service delivery in the state, doctors will not go back to work unless their demands are met,” Obekpa said.
Meanwhile, the MDCAN chapter of FMC, Makurdi, has disassociated itself from the strike.
Its chairman, Dr Isaac Nombur, told newsmen that members were not part of the ongoing strike.
NAN recalls that the NMA had on Oct. 11 directed its members to embark on indefinite strike following government’s inability to meet their demands. (NAN)
AEB/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

LG polls: 5 aspirants accuse APC of imposing chairmanship candidate on Makurdi LG

NAN-H-96

Imposition

Emmanuel Antswen

Makurdi, April 19, 2017 (NAN) Five All Progressive Congress (APC) members aspiring to contest the Makurdi Local Government Chairmanship seat in the June 3 local government polls have accused the party of imposing a sole candidate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aspirants – Christopher Abari, Emmanuel Fagah, Alex Ayayer, Dennis Udepuun and Anthony Dyegeh – stormed the office of the Deputy Governor, Benson Abnoun, to protest the said imposition, on Wednesday.

The aspirants,  however, did not meet the official as he was said to have traveled.

Addressing newsmen on behalf of his colleagues, Abari accused the state party leadership of “deliberately manipulating the entire party primaries to compensate a former APC governorship aspirant”.

Abari alleged that one Chief Akange Audu, who was defeated in the APC governorship primaries in December 2014, was being compensated with the chairmanship position.

“Audu’s wife, Juliana, has been declared the sole APC chairmanship candidate to fly the party’s ticket in the Makurdi Local Government contest.

“We do not think that such is fair because five of us bought the party’s nomination forms more than a year ago and were bracing up for the contest when it was called off and sole administrator appointed to head the local governments.

“When the process resumed not long ago, the six of us, including Mrs. Juliana Audu, appeared for the screening exercise, but the result of that exercise has not been made public.

“We were waiting for the result and the subsequent primary election, only to be told that we have been disqualified and that only Juliana scaled through the screening,” he said.

He alleged that Mrs. Audu was not qualified for the race because she was still a staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.

Reacting, Mr Alfred Berger, APC Publicity Secretary in Benue, said that no candidate had been imposed on any constituency.

“The APC primaries are holding tomorrow (Thursday, April 20), so it does not make sense to say that we have imposed anyone anywhere.

“The fact is that after the screening exercise, some aspirants were disqualified either based on some local zoning arrangement, or that they did just did not meet up the party’s strict requirements for possible success,” he said.

Also reacting, Chief Akange Audu, husband to Juliana, described allegations that he was being compensated with the local government chairmanship seat as “spurious”.

“I am not a contestant. My wife decided to contest based on her own merit.

“She submitted herself to the screening team and was cleared on merit. That is all that I know. I am not owed anything and certainly not being compensated by anyone,” he said.

Audu advised the aggrieved aspirants to follow due process in the search for answers to their questions, pointing out that the APC had several channels through which such matters could be resolved.

He rejected suggestions that his wife did not resign from the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi before seeking the APC ticket.

“My wife resigned on March 17, to contest the election scheduled to hold on June 3. From what she told me, and which I verified, all the rules guiding the process were adhered to,” he said.

Dr. Peter Inunduh, Managing Director, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi could not be reached for comments on Mrs. Audu’s resignation, while a subordinate official, who pleaded anonymity, said that only he (Inunduh), could clarify her current status. (NAN)

AEB/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin