Health
Era of lip service is over, NARD warns Tinubu, insists on 200% salary increase
Era of lip service is over, NARD warns Tinubu, insists on 200% salary increase
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the health sector to address the menacing brain drain.
The union insisted on at least a 200 per cent increment in the basic salary of its members, with the additional allowances, as contained in the letter it sent to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health on July 7, 2022.
The doctors expressed their concern in a statement they issued after their union’s ordinary general meeting in Lagos.
The statement by NARD President, Dr. Emeka Orji, reads: “We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency in the Nigerian health sector as the era of paying lip service to the monster called ‘brain drain’ should be over.
READ ALSO:
- Planned strike: Change your stance before you are exposed, MURIC warns NLC
- Timothy Adegoke: I was offered N71m to withdraw case against my husband’s murderer- Widow
- Bandits attack Sokoto communities, kill 37 over unpaid levies
“We urge the government to set up a high-powered panel to review and harmonise the reports from the former President Obasanjo Health Agenda for Nigeria Committee and the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led Health Sector Reform Committee in order to generate a plan of action in the Health sector for the President Tinubu-led administration.
“We insist on the demand for at least 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and the associated allowances, as contained in our letter to the government, dated July 7, 2022. We have resolved to give the new government some time to quickly resolve this issue which is at the root of the current spate of massive brain drain in the sector.”
NARD added: “We call on Governors Adedapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Alex Otti of Abia State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to urgently look into the situation in the Health sector in their states since these are capable of breaking down the industrial peace in their states.
“We call on the management of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos State Governor to discontinue the demand for bench fees as this contravenes the decision of the National Council on Establishment to abolish the fees.
“We call on the West African Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians to immediately discontinue the practice of charging our members using parallel market exchange rates.
“We call on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop the downgrading of the membership certificate as this is not the practice in sister African countries that share the same certificate.”
Era of lip service is over, NARD warns Tinubu, insists on 200% salary increase
Health
Foreigners now visit Nigeria for plastic surgery, others – Minister
Foreigners now visit Nigeria for plastic surgery, others – Minister
Nigeria’s healthcare is no longer in crisis, Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said.
He said citizens of other countries in Asia, Europe and South America were beginning to visit Nigeria for medical treatment, especially in plastic surgery.
He spoke in an interview on Arise TV, maintaining that Nigeria now has reversed medical tourism.
“Today, we have a reversed medical tourism. We no longer have a japa syndrome in the healthcare system.
People are coming from India, South America and Europe for medical treatment in Nigeria, especially in the surgical area.”
He claimed that with improvements in the healthcare system, the country was witnessing a reversal of the ‘japa syndrome,’ suggesting that medical personnel were returning home from abroad.
According to him, the proliferation of aesthetic hospitals, numbering close to 900 across Nigeria, also contributes to attracting patients seeking services such as plastic surgery.
“Today, we have almost 900 aesthetic hospitals around Nigeria. People are coming to get plastic surgery,’’ he said.
He noted that the administration’s commitment to prioritising public health led to positive changes in the healthcare sector.
“We have a President now that believes a healthy nation is the core to harnessing our biggest asset, which is our human capital,” Alausa said.
He added that the government allocated dedicated funds and initiated collaborations to enhance primary healthcare services and expand health insurance coverage.
“The President has mandated us to increase coverage from about seven million to about 50 million people to have health insurance in the next two to three years.
“This marks the highest budget allocation for the health sector in almost 24 years,” he said.
Health
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
The Adamawa State Government confirmed on Friday evening that 42 individuals have tragically succumbed to a measles outbreak.
Felix Tangwame, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, disclosed this somber update, specifying that the fatalities occurred in Mubi and Gombi local government areas.
Addressing reporters following a state executive council meeting at the Government House, Yola, Tangwame detailed the extent of the outbreak. He revealed that eight wards in Mubi and seven wards in Gombi were affected by the measles outbreak, resulting in the loss of 42 lives out of 131 and 177 affected individuals, respectively, in the mentioned LGAs.
READ ALSO:
- Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper
- My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court
- Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner
In response to the crisis, all local government areas in the state have been placed on red alert as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread.
Tangwame emphasized the promptness of his ministry’s response upon receiving reports of the outbreak, attributing their ability to manage the situation effectively to swift action. He assured that both the government and development partners are actively engaged in addressing the situation.
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
Health
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Sunday declared that the Nido infant milk formula, alleged to contain sugar or honey, was not registered and sold in Nigeria.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Mr Adeyeye said the attention of NAFDAC’s Management was drawn to an online publication alleging that one of the worlds largest consumer goods company added sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.
It stated that the online publication of April 17, 2024 was being circulated widely to the general public.
Mr Adeyeye said the report further stated that samples of baby food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America were tested and results revealed that sugar and honey were added in form of sucrose in samples of Nido and Cerelac.
“The Management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to reassure the public that the Agency exercises due regulatory diligence in the registration of infant and young children foods distributed and used in Nigeria.
“This is in line with relevant Codex Alimentarius international food standards (Codex) and more specifically, Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).
READ ALSO:
- I will not govern Rivers on my knees – Gov Fubara sends warning to political detractors
- Oyo local govt poll: PDP wins all chairmanship seats
- NDLEA intercepts cakes laced with drugs
“This is applicable to all categories of infant and young children foods distributed by manufacturers, importers, and marketers of infant and young children foods operating within Nigeria.
“Regarding the mention of Nido follow-up milk formula in the publication, NAFDAC wishes to state that the product is not registered in Nigeria, is not known to the Agency and is not in circulation in Nigeria,” she stated.
According to Ms Adeyeye, the range of Nestle Cerelac infant cereals distributed in Nigeria are duly registered with NAFDAC in line with the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Foods for Infants and Young Children.
“Processed Cereal Based foods (NIS 256:2010) and the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CXS 74-1981 was adopted in 1981, revised in 2006, amended in 2017, 2019, and 2023), as well as the applicable NAFDAC regulations for compliance with safety, quality, and labelling requirements.
“Adequate, optimal nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential.
“The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) implements the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, developing international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice with the mandate to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair international food trade.
“Nigeria (NAFDAC) is an active participant at these international food standards setting arena to contribute Nigerians positions during food standards development,” it said.
According to the statement, the Agency, on March 22 held a stakeholders engagement with members of the Association of Infant Food Manufacturers and Marketers in Nigeria, AIFMN, anchored by the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FSAN, Directorate, to further drive home the importance and special place of infant and young child nutrition.
Adeyeye reassured the public that the Agency was fully alive to her responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of infant and young children foods offered for sale in Nigeria in compliance with the relevant standards and regulations.
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
NAN
Lagos govt to empower one million youths with ICT skills
We will sanction teachers engaging in extra lessons after school – LASG
La Liga President confirms Mbappe to Real Madrid move
-
Business2 hours agoDollar crashes against Naira at official market
-
International3 days agoUpdated: Three years after separation, Melinda resigns as co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
-
News3 days agoTragedy strikes as Customs officer kills self in Abuja
-
metro2 days agoEdo community attacked, houses razed, 8 cars burnt
-
Sports2 days agoTottenham will go all out to beat Manchester City – Postecoglou
-
metro1 day agoNigerian who killed wife in UK bags life jail
-
Entertainment3 days agoKorra Obidi faces backlash for Hawaii trip after receiving $50,000 in donations
-
Education2 days agoBREAKING: ASUU threatens fresh nationwide strike over federal varsities’ condition