Friday 25 July 2014

Nigerian Medical Association (Lagos State) Speaks: Ebola Virus

In spite of the imminent threat of the Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos, striking medical doctors under the auspices of Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, have said they will not suspend the ongoing strike. The Chairman of the Association, Dr Tope Ojo, said the ongoing strike was not called because of Ebola and cannot be called off because of the threat of the viral infection in the state.

He said, “We are not on strike because of Ebola. It was never part of our demands. It wasn’t our fault.” However, he said the doctors would continue to partner with the State government to monitor the trend of the disease to check its spread. Ojo, who spoke at a press briefing organised by the newly elected officials of NMA in the state blamed the on-going crisis in the health sector on the Federal Government’s mismanagement of the sector.

“Why should a government be willing to concede the headship of the medical institutions to the hands of allied health workers? Will the same government not concede to a hostess the right to fly a plane or Court bailiff the post of a judge or the head of a university maintenance unit to be the vice chancellor because of the so-called opportunistic explanation of a team work?”

Speaking on the contentious issue of granting the prayers of other health workers to become consultants, Ojo said that decision of the government if allowed will only create unending anarchy. “The title ‘Consultant’ in medical practice is preserved exclusively for a doctor that has gone through a minimum of six years excruciating full time, postgraduate academic training.

He added that a situation where doctors are paid N5000.00 monthly allowance for hazard is not only laughable but unbelievable. Ojo said, “A doctor’s life can be lost in an instance when exposed to fatal illnesses such as Ebola, Lassa fever or he may be subjected to a life-long suffering from HIV or Hepatitis B infection.”

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