NMA drums support for Armed Forces
NMA drums support for Armed Forces
By Ummul Idris
Support
Abuja, Jan. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Federal Government to sustain its support to the armed forces in terms of human and material resources needed for effective security in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, Dr Francis Faduyile, the President of the association, said the armed forces should be appreciated.
“As we remember our fallen heroes today, we urge Nigerians to show appreciation to the men of the armed forces and pray for peace in our land as we approach the general elections.
“The NMA wishes to salute the efforts and gallantry of the men of the Nigerian armed forces for safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigerian nation over the years.’’
He said that the NMA recognises and salute the selflessness of the fallen heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces for paying the supreme price for our nation.
Faduyile also urged Nigerians not to allow the of sacrifices security agencies to be in vain.
He prayed that may the beautiful souls of the fallen heroes continue to rest in peace. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA inaugurates committee to eliminate Trans Fatty Acids in Nigeria
Photo attached
NMA inaugurates committee to eliminate Trans Fatty Acids in Nigeria
By Ummul Idris
Acids
Abuja, Dec. 8, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has inaugurated a Technical Working Group for the elimination of Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) foods in Nigeria.
Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Abuja, the NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, said the exercise was in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
Faduyile said it was a follow up to the launch of the ICON project earlier in the year.
“This is a follow up to the implementation of a policy of the World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed by the Federal Government,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mandate of the committee is to work out modalities for the implementation of “improving the cardiovascular health of Nigerians’’.
The NMA president explained that the focus would be to eliminate cardiovascular diseases in the country.
According to him, it had been scientifically proven that the consumption of TFAs is one of the major causes of many cardiovascular deaths as sudden deaths syndrome which had taken a toll on Nigerians.
“Today is the formal inauguration of the multi-stakeholders Technical Group which we expect to stand till Nigerians begin to reverse the losses due to sudden deaths and others traders to NCDS generally and TFAs in particular.’’
He, however, urged all stakeholders to work assiduously towards the elimination or reduction to no less than two per cent of TFAs in our food supply chain.
NAN reports that some of the agencies in the committee include NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council, Federal Ministry of Health, National Council of Women Society, Association of Health Journalists and other stakeholders.
NAN recalls that the NMA had earlier urged NAFDAC to ban the importation, production and distribution of products with Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) content in the country.
The association made the appeal at the launch of improving cardiovascular health of Nigerians (ICON) project.
NMA also called on relevant stakeholders to respond to the clarion call by WHO for countries to take conscientious steps to eliminate or reduce the consumption of all forms of industrially produced TFAs.
Reports say there are overwhelming bodies of evidence of the harmful effects of TFAs in our diets, justifying the rationale for outright ban or a reduction to two per cent in all consumables on the country.
NAN also reports that the setting up of a committee had birthed a sustainable vehicle through a platform to engage all stakeholders. (NAN)
UMD/ACO/MST
Edited by Abiodun Oluleye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Strike: NMA urges Enugu Govt to redeem promise to resident doctors
Strike: NMA urges Enugu Govt to redeem promise to resident doctors
By Maureen Ojinaka
Redemption
Enugu, Nov. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to redeem the promise his administration made to residents doctors over their demands.
The Enugu State Chairman of the association, Dr Ike Okwesili, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday.
Okwesili said the residents doctors at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) are asking that they should be placed on equal pal with their fellow doctors working in the State Ministry of Health.
According to him, there is disparity in the salary of the resident doctors in ESUTH and doctors in the state ministry.
He said that NMA believed that the consolidated medical scale should be paid to every doctor.
The chairman noted that the impact of the strike on ordinary citizens in the state was compounding the hardships of patients especially in terms of logistics.
He added that NMA met with the stakeholders two weeks ago to resolve the problem so as to avoid strike, but regretted that the government was yet to resolve the issue.
He explained that there has been segregation in the case of Enugu state as the allowances which the ESUT doctors were asking for were paid to doctors in the Ministry of Health, leaving those of ESUTH resident doctors.
Okwesili said the ESUTH resident doctors went on the strike as a last option following series of futile efforts to get the state government pay their allowances.
He therefore advised the state government to urgently meet the need of the residents’ doctors so as to avoid casualties as well as save lives of patients who seek medical services and attention from the ESUTH. (NAN)
OJI/FF/MST
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Shortage of doctors: NMA demands improved welfare to avert brain drain
Shortage of doctors: NMA demands improved welfare to avert brain drain
By Ummul Idris
Doctors
Abuja, Nov. 28, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has attributed poor remuneration and inadequate
health facilities as some of the major reasons for mass exodus of medical doctors.
Dr Ekpe Phillips, the FCT Chapter NMA Chairman, said this at the opening of the Annual Health Week of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Phillips described the pay package of doctors in Nigeria as poor, stressing the need for government to increase the remuneration of doctors to address the challenge.
He noted that many doctors who left the country to take up foreign appointment did so due to inadequate facilities among other factors.
He listed mass unemployment, lack of placement for residency faced by a high proportion of medical professionals in Nigeria as other factors.
Phillips said Nigeria is losing doctors to foreign countries, adding that Nigerian doctors are leaving the country for greener pastures and the workload is becoming too much on the doctors that stay.
“We hear doctors collapsing because the workload is too much because their colleagues have left to find a greener gesture.
“We have internal and international brain drain; Nigeria now has one doctor catering for 5,000 patients instead of one doctor to 600
patients.
“Brain drain is now becoming pandemic and sad news because government did not and still is not doing enough; there is no serious commitment to stemming this syndrome.
“Nigeria which was one of the richest 50 countries in the early 70s has metro greased to become one of the 25 poorest countries in the
World today,’’ he said.
Dr Michael Olarewaju, the President of Association of Residents Doctors, FCT chapter, said that brain drain was a massive problem to Nigeria’s health system.
He said that if the problem was not properly tackled in the next two to three years there would not be enough doctors to treat patients in the country.
He observed that initially the problem in the sector was strike by health workers “but now they are not going on strike but are exiting the country’’. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA wants harmony among nurses, medical doctors
NMA wants harmony among nurses, medical doctors
By Ummul Idris
Harmony
Abuja, Nov. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for harmonious and cordial working relationship between doctors and nurses in order to deliver the best standard of care to patients.
The association made the appeal in a statement signed by its President, Dr Francis Faduyile, after a meeting between the two bodies on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NMA president commended nurses and their current leadership on the proactive steps taken to improve the working conditions of nurses in the country.
He stressed the importance of nurses in the health sector and appreciated the role they had been playing as professional care givers.
According to him, there is need for harmony and cordiality to exist between doctors and nurses in order to deliver the best standard of care to patients, just the way it was in the years past.
He stated that health workers should no longer be talking the talk but walking the talk.
According to him, the relationship between doctors and nurses is as old as the medical profession and cannot be broken now.
He also noted that the relationship between the duo could be rekindled for better working of the health sector.
“There is need for good mutual relationship among caregivers in the health sector.
“With this initiative the health sector will get the desired attention from the relevant agencies of government if the various stakeholders in the sector continue to work towards a better and healthier nation,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting ended with the formation of a technical committee that would fashion out ways and develop policies.
The proposed policies are expected to further mould the ailing health sector and improve the nation’s health indices. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA seeks greater cooperation with nurses
NMA seeks greater cooperation with nurses
By Ummul Idris
Cooperation
Abuja, Nov. 19, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called for the reintroduction of the old good working relationship that existed between medical practitioners and nurses to promote better working relations in the healthcare sector.
The NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, made the appeal on Monday when he visited the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Abuja.
Faduyile said that the NMA was prepared for better relation with the nurses and always committed to the restoration of the lost glory between health workers, especially the doctors and nurses relationship.
He said that such collaboration would guarantee better working relationship, quality healthcare service for patients and better working environment.
“It is true that nurses have not had the best of times over the years in the health sector. And that has pushed them to distance themselves from the doctors.
“By this visit, NMA is calling on nurses to return to the lost relationship that has been progressive and beneficial to both of us.
“It is important we ensure harmony within the health sector and better working environment,” he said.
According to him, everybody in the medical profession must key into the new spirit of togetherness and Nigerians must know that health workers are united.
Responding, Mr Abdrafiu Adeniji, the President of NANNM, commended NMA for the visit, while also acknowledging that without harmonious and cordial relationship, the healthcare environment will not develop.
“We should be able to do it in a way that will not hamper the benefit of our patients.
“We are committed to team action and quality healthcare services to the healthcare consumers that we are employed to serve,” he said.
According to him, “we take sincere commitment of each and every one of us, we believe the health sector in Nigeria will be better’’.
Also speaking, Mr Thomas Shettima, the General Secretary of NANNM, said the objective of close collaboration would ensure that patients receive the best service since both nurses and doctors are patients centred.
“We have understood that conflict is not taking us anywhere, but if we work together the sky is our limit,” Shettima said. (NAN)
UMD/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA to train health workers on neonatal, maternal mortality
NMA to train health workers on neonatal, maternal mortality
By Ummul Idris
Training
Abuja, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says it will train and retain health workers to reduce the prevalence of neonatal and maternal mortality in rural areas.
The FCT Chairman of the association, Dr Ekpe Phillips, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NMA) on Saturday in Abuja.
Phillips said there was urgent need to train medical personnel in rural communities because of high neonatal and maternal mortality in such areas.
He said that the training would go a long way in improving services in health facilities.
Phillips stressed the need for health workers to be professional in their responsibilities.
“Training of healthcare personnel to help babies to breath well is part of our corporate social responsibilities.
“There is an urgent need to teach medical personnel in rural areas because of high neonatal and maternal mortality in such areas.
“The FCT chapter of the association thought it wise to invite experts to teach health personnel on how best to take care of newborn babies.
“Even though we had organised such training in the past we hope to do it again.
“We believe it will go a long way to reduce the prevalence of neonatal and maternal mortality.
“Nigeria has the highest neonatal deaths in Africa and we are second in the world after India and some of the causes of these deaths are treatable and preventable.’’
Philips listed some of the leading causes of the deaths as premature birth, fascia and infection.
He explained that premature birth was when babies were born before 37 weeks of gestation; while fascia was when a baby failed to breathe at birth, and infection or sepsis could also cause neonatal death.
He stressed that many health workers lacked the skill to treat babies born with such challenges, hence the need to train them for improved care and services.
“We the members of the association should not be sleeping while healthcare delivery continues to nosedive.
“The health and socio-demographic indices of Nigeria are sources of shame and ridicule to every patriotic citizen of Nigeria.
“Our pregnant women still deliver without the assistance of skilled birth attendants.
“Why should a woman die in the course of pregnancy and childbirth since the causes of morbidity and mortality are largely preventable and treatable?”, the NMA chairman said. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA raises alarm over fake medical report
NMA raises alarm over fake medical report
By Ummul Idris
Report
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has raised alarm over series of fake medical reports being obtained by Nigerians to further their interest.
Dr Ekpe Phillips, the FCT NMA Chairman, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NMA) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the burden of fake medical reports had littered everywhere, adding that many had been caught in the act.
According to him, “we have severally caught non-medical personnel carrying out major surgeries’’.
He said such act should no longer be tolerated in the society with the new advent of Doctor’s stamp.
The NMA chairman said that Nigerians had perennially suffered in the hands of fake medical and health personnel which had endangered the health of the country.
He said that the use of Doctor’s stamp would help to put a stop to quackery, adding that forgery will soon be a thing of the past.
Philips stated that the association would join hands with the Federal Government in sanitising the nation’s health system.
He said that a situation where an individual could successfully infiltrate the industry of health to the extent of becoming the leader of NMA at the Federal Ministry of Health would no longer be acceptable.
“Of note is the infiltration at the Federal Ministry of Health, to the extent that the individual became a leader of NMA in FMOH,” he recalled. (NAN)
UMD/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NMA wants policy banning hydrogenated oils
NMA wants policy banning hydrogenated oils
By Mustapha Sumaila
Policy
Abuja, Nov. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday advocated for a policy to ban totally hydrogenated oil and reduce Trans Fatty Acids in food chain to two per cent to tackle cardiovascular diseases in the country.
The NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, made the proposal when he visited NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, in Abuja.
Faduyile explained that the policy was necessary due to increasing cases of sudden death globally, including Nigeria, caused by cardiovascular diseases arising from consumption of trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils.
He said that World Health Organisation (WHO) had advised nations to review their food supply chains with the aim to eliminating the harmful oils.
According to him, WHO also provided replace strategy as an easy programming tool in achieving the objective.
“Base on this, NMA has developed a project known as ‘improving the cardiovascular health of Nigerians’ as a sustainable vehicle to support all sector efforts and partners to rid the country’s food supply chain of trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils.
“This project was unveiled on Sept. 26, 2018, in Abuja here during the National Stakeholders meeting,” he said.
The NMA president stated that the courtesy call was to seek collaboration with NAFDAC in ensuring effective restriction of the content of trans-fatty acids in food to only two per cent and total ban for hydrogenated oils.
Faduyile expressed readiness to work with NAFDAC and other critical stakeholders in achieving the course.
He said that the association had given a timeline of December 2019 to achieving the goal.
Responding, Adeyeye promised to work with NMA to ensuring such policy was developed and enforced.
The director-general said that massive awareness creation was needed because consumption of harmful oils had killed a lot of Nigerians.
She stated that palm oil had the highest of trans-fatty acids and advised people to reduce excessive consumption of palm oil in their daily meals.
The NAFDAC boss however suggested for constitution of technical committee between her agency and NMA to develop the policy. (NAN)
MS/JEO/MST
Edited by Janefrances Oraka/Muhammad Suleiman Tola