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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