FG plans to replace striking doctors with consultants, corps members

The Federal Government has directed the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs) of all the Federal Tertiary Hospitals to immediately engage the services of consultants, NYSC doctors and bring in locum staff to maintain routine services as the nationwide strike by the resident doctors continues.

This is part of the measures put in place to mitigate the effect of the strike on the generality of the populace; even as the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, described the strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) as ill-timed and ill-advised.

Other measures took by the Federal Government to further ensure that health services are not disrupted is to ensure that COVID-19 Treatment Centers should continue to function as before, and emergency services continue to run as before; while routine services should also be maintained.

This, according to the minister is to be maintained with the consultants, NYSC Doctors; and the engagement of locum staff where necessary.

A statement signed by Ehanire on Wednesday said: “The Federal Ministry of Health finds it necessary to ensure measures are put in place to mitigate the effect of this strike on the generality of our populace by directing the CMDs/MDs of our Federal Tertiary Hospitals to immediately do the following:

“COVID-19 Treatment Centers should continue to function as before; Emergency Services should continue to run as before; Routine services should be maintained with Consultants, NYSC Doctors; Locum staff are to be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services disruption where applicable and affordable.”

The minister expressed deep concern about the ongoing strike embarked upon by the resident doctors on Monday.

He said: “We must remember that the primary duty of Doctors and all health workers is to save lives. Embarking on a strike at this time that the country is battling with the COVID-l9 pandemic is ill-timed and ill-advised.

“It is a critical time in which all well-meaning Medical professionals should close ranks and confront the common enemy, which is the COVlD-l9 pandemic threatening mankind. This is therefore one strike too many. Besides, most of the demands have been met, and others though difficult, are at an advanced stage of implementation. A little patience would have made a big difference.”

The minister called on the NARD to return to work and engage the Federal Government in completing the ongoing due process of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NARD and Government.

He added: “I wish to assure the general public that measures have been put in place to ensure that they continue to access services at all our Federal Tertiary Hospitals across the county.”

Meanwhile, a meeting called at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to resolve the crisis and ensure the doctors return back to work is still ongoing at the time of filing this report in Abuja.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

What I Told Trump About Christian Massacre Allegation ― Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, revealed his response to President Donald Trump over the American leader’s allegation that the Nigerian government was slaughtering Christians, telling him that the problem between cattle testers and farmers was a cultural thing rather than ethnicity or religion…

COMMENTARY: Four Reasons It’s Stupid To Compare Nigeria’s Petrol Prices With Other Countries, By Farooq Kperogi
In trying to justify Buhari’s latest callous hike in the price of petrol (amid a pandemic, no less), Buhari’s supporters increasingly sound like noisome idiots straining hard to be low-grade morons. Here are four reasons it’s stupid to compare Nigeria’s petrol prices with others…

Constitution Review: Middle Belt Congress Seeks Additional 19 States, Abolition Of Local Councils
Ahead of the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the Senate ad-hoc committee led by Senator Ovie Omo Agege, the Middle Belt Congress has submitted a memorandum to the Committee.
Investigation revealed that the MBC is seeking for the creation of an additional 19 states in the country to make the total number of states to 55…

50 Million Nigerians May Develop Mental Illness, Commit Suicide ― Expert
Contrary to what many people think, a mental health expert, Dr Jibril Abdulmalik has said that 50 million Nigerians stand a risk of developing mental health problems, and some culminating in suicide.
Dr Abdulmalik spoke at a one-day online training on mental health and suicide reportage for media practitioners in commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) 2020…