The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has demanded immediate reversal of the government’s directive terminating the appointment of resident doctors in all government hospitals.
The association has also directed all its members not to accept any letter terminating their appointment from the government.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the president of the association, Dr Kayode Obembe, urged medical doctors across the nation not to pick up locum appointment with government hospitals.
“NMA condemns in totality the alleged presidential directive via the federal ministry of health suspending residency training programme in Nigeria,” he said.
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“NMA demands immediate withdrawal of the suspension circular and unconditional reinstatement of the so-called sacked resident doctors.
“Government should show commitment on her part in resolving the current impasse with the NMA rather than resorting to punitive measures that will only further aggravate the already deplorable situation.”
Obembe maintained that the association would not suspend its industrial action, which began on July 1, even if the government reinstated the sacked resident doctors, adding that the government must meet its “24-point demand”.
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“NMA shall resist by all means any attempt by the government to break her ranks as an association,” he added.
The president of NMA further said that the government stance would worsen the present industrial disharmony.
He urged all doctors to remain committed towards containing the Ebola outbreak, and advised the government to ensure thal all persons under surveillance for Ebola virus infection do not travel outside their domain of residence.
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2 comments
Just imagine the imperious tone of the NMA president. Let us watch and see who is in charge of the of the country. Hear the hypocritical remark about doctors being committed to the fight against Ebola; from their hiding? Doctors are not sticking out their neck for Ebola, not when those of them that have private hospitals are shutting down temporarily( No new admittance). Money-conscious, unsacrificing, unpatriotic, greedy, callous men and women!
May the sacked Doctors never be brought back. Professional men with good conscience and Hippocratic consciousness couldn’t have acted the way and manner Government’s Doctors have acted in this country. Their action undertones wickedness and untamed professional indiscipline. Pray, if soldiers and Police decide to go on strike for 24hours to press home better welfare in view of the hazardous nature of their professions, who will sleep well in this country? Mr. President should please ignore their pleas and source replacement for the 16000 cashiered medics from ever-available doctors from the Army, Police, Air Force, Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence Corps and scores of would-be volunteers that are abound in this country. Those sacked boys are wicked!