From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Medical doctors under the umbrella of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have advocated immediate declaration of state of emergency in Nigeria’s health sector.
The doctors said the situation in Nigeria’s health sector is pathetic, hence they believe that such decision will enable the government and stakeholders give urgent and proper attention, and as well pull the necessary funding required to improve the health sector in Nigeria.
The doctors, in a communique released at the end of their meeting in Lagos, at the weekend, insisted that the era of paying lip service to the monster called “brain drain” should be over.
The communique which was signed by Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent and Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, NARD President and Secretary-General, respectively, suggested that a panel be set up to review and harmonize the reports from the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s health agenda for Nigeria committee and the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s led health sector reform committee, in order to generate a plan of action in the health sector for the President Tinubu-led administration.
They insisted on their demand for, at least, 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and the associated allowances as contained in their letter to the government dated 7th July, 2022.
“We have resolved to give the new
government some time to quickly resolve this issue and several other ones which are at the root of the current spate of massive brain drain in the sector.”
The doctors called on Governors Adedapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Alex Otti of Abia
state; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state; Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; Abdurahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara state; and the FCT Administration to urgently look into the situation in the health sector in their respective states so as the protect the lives of their people and maintain industrial peace in their states.
“Similarly, we call on the management of LASUTH and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to discontinue the demand for bench fees, stating that it contravenes the decision of the National Council on Establishment to abolish the fees.”
The doctors also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, put measures in place to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on Nigerians and ensure that monies saved from the removal of subsidy are judiciously used and put into meaningful investments that would better the lives of all Nigerians, stressing that health and education should be prioritized.