Communique from National Executive Council Meeting of The National Association of Resident Doctors.

The communique issued at the end of NEC meeting of NARD which held at the Owerri Hotel Plaza, Owerri Imo State, on the 31st of January 2015.

PREAMBLE: 

The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) held her National Executive Council Meeting on the 31st of January 2015, at the Owerri Hotel Plaza, Owerri Imo State. The Opening Ceremony featured a public lecture on "The National Health Act and its implication on the Effective Healthcare Delivery" delivered by Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Hon. Minister of State for Education at the Obstetric and Gynaecology Conference Hall in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State.

OBSERVATIONS 

A.  Duration of Residency Training Programme 

NEC delegates observed that there was no uniformity in the duration of residency training in institution across the country which was affecting the quality of the programme. Once more we appeal to the Federal Government, Management and Board of Federal Medical Center, Owerri (F.M.C, Owerri) to revisit the unfair termination of Resident Doctors at F.M.C, Owerri. 

 

B.  Allied Health Workers Strike 

The Delegates commended resident doctors all over the country for sustain medical Services despite the ongoing Allied Health Workers strike. However delegates were concerned following the confirmed report of assault of a medical doctor at Gwarinpa General Hospital and the continued harassment of resident doctors by striking health workers in our health institutions all over the country. 

 

C.  Non-Payment of Resident Doctors 

NEC delegates noted with dismay the plight of resident doctors of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) Osogbo, who are being owed 3 months' salary arrears despite their outstanding and unrelenting efforts at providing medical services during the period. Delegates also observed that some State Government such as Lagos and Ogun State are yet to pay salaries for doctors who participated in the NMA withdrawal of services despite assurance of non-victimization following resumption of work. 

 

D.  National Health Act 

The delegates expressed their appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic' of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for signing the National Health Bill into Law. The effort of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Aurthur Okowa towards the actualization of the act was appreciated. 

E.  2015 Elections 

The delegates noted with serious concern the threat of violence during the forthcoming 2015 general elections and expressed their willingness to ensure prompt and proficient medical services to all citizens. The delegates also urged all Nigerians to eschew violence during the elections. 

 

RESOLUTIONS 

After exhaustive deliberations on the issues highlighted above, the delegates resolved as follows: 

 

1.  The Federal Government and Ministry of Health should implore all the chief medical directors to abide by and ensure uniformity in the duration of residency training using the agreed template that had been adopted and equally recall our sacked colleagues at Federal Medical Center, Owerri (F.M.C Owerri). 

 

The Lagos State Government Should also as a matter of urgency reinstate residency training and out an end to caualisation of doctors so as to enable its citizens access top class medical services. 

 

2.  The Federal Government should implement the terms of the agreement reached with Nigerian Doctors to prevent any industrial dispute and enhance service delivery. 

 

3.  The Federal and State Governments should provide an enabling environment for resident doctors to continue to provide medical services in hospitals across the country despite the on-going allied health workers strike, We also urge that appropriate security measures.be put in place to stop further harassment of medical doctors in the hospitals, 

 

4.  The Osun State Government and Management of LAUTECH Osogbo should urgently ensure the payment of the three months' salary arrears to resident doctors in the state to enable them continue to provide excellent medical services to its citizenry. 

 

5.  The Federal Government should prevail upon the Lagos and Ogun State Governments to implement the 'no victimization' clause of NMA-FG agreement and urgently pay withheld salaries of resident doctors in their respective states. 

 

6.  The Federal Government should prevail on relevant agencies to urgently address issues affecting residency programme such as regular employment of resident doctors, full enrolment into the pension scheme and integration into the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information Systems (IPPIS) platform. This would ultimately lead to improvement of health indices of the country. 

 

Appreciations 

The NARD NEC appreciates the overwhelming support and hospitality of the good people of Imo State, Special thanks to Eze Owere - His Royal Majesty, 'Emmanuel Emenyonu Njemanze (Ozuriogbo of Owerri) OON, FPSN, Minister of State for Education -Prof Viola Onwuliri, MD of FMC Owerri - Dr Angela Uwakwem , Imo State NMA Chairman - Dr Emele Hyacinth Ogugua and all delegates for committing their time and resources to making sure that the 1 st NEC in 2015 became a success 

 

NARD is also grateful to the members of the ARD FMC Owerri for the successful hosting, 

 

Thank you.

 

Dr Prince Dan-Jumbo

 

Dr. Oluwajimi Sodipo

Publicity and Social Secretary 

 

Dr. Daniel Gbujie

Secretary-General

- Culled from MedicalWorldNigeria..