National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), Communique at the end of its 38th Ordinary General Meeting (OGM)

The Opening Ceremony was held at the Auditorium of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika with the theme of the Scientific Conference as “Healthcare  Delivery in the face of rising Insecurity: The Role of Doctors, the Responsibilities of the Government” under the chairmanship of Dr. Stephen Kitchener ably  represented by Prof. Aisha Indo Mamman. The Keynote Speech was delivered by Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Past NMA President & Vice Chairman Common Wealth Medical Association.

Other Speakers were Her Excellency Hajiya Aisha Ummi El-Rufai, Wife of the Kaduna State Governor who delivered a lecture on the sub-theme “Health Needs of  the Girl Child and Abused Women in Our Contemporary Community” and Prof. Sylvanus Okogbeni, Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital,lrrua who delivered a lecture on “Lassa Fever and the Resident Doctor”.

Other events during the weeklong activity included a Courtesy visit to Prof Khalid Lawal mni, the Chief Medical Director, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching  Hospital, Shika, Her Excellency, Wife of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha Ummi El-Rufai and the Emir of Zazzau Emirate, His Royal  Highness, Alhaji Dr. Shehu Idris CFR.

We also embarked on our Corporate Social functions Tagged: The Doctors Reach Out Programme (T-DROP) at the Zaria Orphanage and home for people with Special needs.

The Business Session of the Ordinary General Meeting (0GM) held at the Conference Hall of the Organo Hotel GRA Zaria on Friday 11th May 2018 where pertinent issues concerning the State of our Association, Healthcare delivery in Nigeria, Residency Training Programme and welfare of our members were reviewed.

i. The continuous threat posed by Lassa fever and other infectious diseases in parts of the Country with its associated risk and death of Health workers.

ii. The recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and response by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

iii. The spate of killings of helpless Nigerians by armed groups in different parts of the Country.

iv. Though the board of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) is favourably disposed to resolving the impasse between NARD and JUTH, the Management is still yet to recall the Resident Doctors unjustly sacked over the years. This current position of JUTH Management is capable of disrupting the already fragile understanding between NARD and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

v. There is a 30 day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on JUTH and Government’s inability to redeem the agreements contained in the 6th September,  2017 Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MOTOS). The said ultimatum elapsed 13 days ago.

vi. The welfare of our Members in the State University Teaching Hospitals (SUTHs) across the Nation is still not encouraging.

vii. Special mention is that of our Members at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital Osogbo, where Members have been perpetually short changed.  Adjusted CONMESS is yet to be paid and the already perceived incomplete salary has been halved by the State Government. Our Members in Osogbo are still being owed Six months salaries (November 2015 — April 2016). The Government of Osun state that is yet to completely pay our Members’ salaries is implementing full  PITAS (Tax System) which has worsened the state of our Members. Also, our Members in Osogbo have not been promoted since 2015.

viii. NARD has unfortunately noted that state Governments across the Nation have repeatedly demonstrated inability to manage Tertiary Healthcare.

ix. Despite the ongoing industrial action by other Health workers (JOHESU) for almost one month, our Members who constitute the largest pool of Doctors in  the Country have been working assiduously to provide the available Healthcare to the Nigerian Populace.

x. There have been pockets of assaults on our members at their duty post by the violent arm of JOHESU across the country in Hospitals like Nnamdi Azikiwe  University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, and Federal Medical Centre Owerri.

xi. Despite the extra effort put into work by our Members in various Federal Teaching Institutions In the face of ongoing challenges (UITH Ilorin, LUTH Idi- Araba, OAUTHC Ile-ife, UCH Ibadan, UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, ISTH Irrua, FMC Asaba, FMC Owerri, FMC Umuahia, FNPH Uselu and NOH Igbobi), sadly April 2018 salaries is still being delayed in these institutions.

xli. The Residency Training Act haven been passed long ago by the legislature is still awaiting Presidential assent despite its being central to addressing the challenges in Post Graduate Medical Training in Nigeria.

i. MARD still calls on Government to setup Regional Infectious disease centers of Excellence across the country to ease the pressure at ISTH. Irma and to stern the needles loss of lives to Lassa laver.

ii. NARD appreciates the recent scale of surveillance at the Country’s land borders and airports. The has helped curb the threat of Ebola Virus, regulate and report entry of suspected Infectious individuals and prevent the spread of the deadly disease in Nigeria.

iii. NARD enjoins all Healthcare workers at all times to imbibe Universal Health precautions and best hygiene practices such as regular hand washing and maintaining personal and environment cleanliness.

iv. NARD again demands Comprehensive Life Insurance for all Healthcare Workers in Nigeria.

v. NARD reiterates that security is a right of all Nigerians and demands Government to provide Security for all irrespective of location.

vi. The ongoing advocacy, with the Board re Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) is welcomed, but NARD wants Government to impress or the JUTH Board and Management to reinstate all unjustly sacked Resident doctors in JUTH immediately.

vii. Delegates resolve to extend the ultimatum by 21 days, starting from Monday 14th May 2018. This extension is to avail Government time to reinstate our  sacked Member’s in JUTH with full benefits and also meet outstanding agreement contained in the above stated MOTOS, after which NARD may not guarantee industrial Harmony.

viii. NARD enjoins the Government of Osun State to urgently look into the welfare of our members at LUTH JUTH Osogbo and resolve all lingering issues pertaining to the welfare at our Members in Osogbo.

x. Delegates Unanimously called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to Urgently take over Tertiary Healthcare from State Governments. This will not only protect the welfare of our Members in SUTHS, it will guarantee specialist Healthcare delivery to the Nigerian populace.

x. NARD does not have issues with ones sure groups including Health workers agitating for better working conditions. However we condemn a situation where they resort to cheap blackmail and violent assault on our Members at their duty post. We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria; Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) to ensure the security of Doctors and all Staff working in Hospitals across the Country during this JOHESU strike and beyond. NARD demands that CMDs of  Hospitals where our Members are assaulted bring the perpetrators to these violent acts to book.

xi. NARD also wishes to align with her parent body the NMA by reminding Government that any adjustment In CONHESS should be matched with corresponding adjustment of CONMESS.

 xii. NARD rejects pay parity between Doctors and Allied Professionals as this would erode relativity and distort emolument hierarchy the Health sector. The consequence would not be good he the Health sector. Relativity is sacrosanct.

xiii. HARD frowns at the fact that salaries of our Members at various Federal Health Institutions are still being withheld by earlier mentioned Hospital Management and call on all responsible to urgently pay all outstanding Salaries to our diligent and hardworking Members.

xiv. We unanimously request the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to graciously assent to the Residency Training Program Act in order to resolve all contentious issues affecting the training of Resident Doctors in Nigeria.

NARD wishes to appreciate the President and Commander in Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and all our invited guest at  the 38th NARD OGM.

We specially appreciate the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Dr. Shehu Idris (CFR), Wife of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha Ummi El-Rufai, the  Honorable Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Dr. Chris Ngige, CMD of ABUTH Shika Prof Lawal Khalid  mni, CMAC of ABUTH Shika Prof Ahmed Ado.

We are also grateful to the NMA President Dr. Francis A. Faduyile, Past NMA Presidents, Prof Mike Ogirima, Dr. Stephen Kitchener and Dr. Osahon Enabulele,  MDCAN President Prof. Ngim Ngim and all past NARD Presidents for their guidance.

Finally, we appreciate the CMD of ISTH Irrua, Prof Sylvanus Okogbenin, Prof. Aisha Indo Mamman, LOC of Zazzau 2018 led by Dr. Aliyu Sokumba and his team,  Congress of ARD ABUTH and all Delegates to the 38th NARD OGM Zazzau 2018.

LONG LIVE NARD

LONG LIVE NMA

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Dr. Ugochukwu Chinaka

President.

Dr. Ugochukwu Eze

Publicity and Social Secretary.

Dr. Osinachukwu V. Nnadi

Secretary General