Naijalite

Madam Okonjo Iweala; Reforming the unreformable

2016-10-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

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PRESS BRIEFING BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA, UCH IBADAN CHAPTER, HELD ON THURSDAY, 24TH MARCH, 2016 AT AMLSN UCH SECRETARIAT, IBADAN, OYO STATE.

2016-03-25T02:21:00.005-07:00

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA, UCH IBADAN CHAPTER, HELD ON THURSDAY, 24TH MARCH, 2016 AT AMLSN UCH SECRETARIAT, IBADAN, OYO STATE.

Gentlemen of the press,

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON UCH RESIDENT DOCTOR: A CASE OF DEFAMATION

The attention of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) UCH Chapter, Ibadan has been drawn to the article being circulated in the print, social and electronic media, titled: “Assault on doctor: UCH resident doctors demand justice”; wherein an allegation of assault on a resident doctor in the Haematology Department of the UCH was made against an Assistant Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist in the same department. It is pertinent to inform the public that resident doctors in the UCH laboratory have intentionally decided to create crises in UCH by act of provocation that cannot be substantiated.

Much as the AMLSN would have loved to ignore this propaganda as it’s gradually becoming a routine practice by resident doctors in the sister profession of medicine, this time, under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), UCH Chapter; it behoves us as an association to let the public in on the true situation and our side of the story thus:

The resident doctor in question who has had other misunderstanding with the Asst. Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist (ACMLS) on professionalism related issues entered the laboratory and went straight for the heamatological specimen slides where they are archived in the shelve without informing the Medical Laboratory Scientists in the laboratory whose responsibility amongst others is to process, prepare, report, archive the slide and present same on request. Having observed the poor handling of the archived slides without recourse to proper documentation, the ACMLS gently advised on this approach employed by resident doctor in retrieving the archived specimen slide which could result in loss or damage to the slides and so render all effort put in by the Medical Laboratory Scientist in preparing the slides wasted with attending future challenge to the patients’ diagnosis and treatment follow up. In the presence of witnesses, the resident doctor flared up (apparently not comfortable that a Medical Laboratory Scientist could tell her what to do), pushed and poked at the nose of the Medical Laboratory Scientist with a threatPP that if she ever gave such advice she would get more violent reaction. Witnesses around tried to calm her, but she stormed out of the laboratory only to return in the company of the ‘HOD’, Haematology Department and alleged that she was assaulted. Consequently, the ACMLS was further harassed. Typical of our friends, they took this as another opportunity to blackmail and went to report the case at the nearest police station while granting press interview to call for public sympathy.

We like to place on record, that although we are used to internal resolution of events like this in the interest of peace in the sector, since they chose to bring this to the court of public opinion, may we also inform the public that we have had cases of documented and undocumented harassment and assault on Medical Laboratory Scientists in UCH by resident doctors. The most recent case of physical assault against our member (a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist), by a resident doctor from the Pathology Department of the hospital who attacked and threatened to “gun down” the Medical Laboratory Scientist in question as he claimed to be a Major in the Nigerian Army and he is licensed to kill, which occurred on 18th February, 2016 in the presence of witnesses, is still before the management.

The ARD UCH Chapter has the habit of going to the media to lie to the public. Not too long ago, the association alleged that a resident doctor was raped in UCH. In late 2015, one of them raised an alarm on a live radio interview programme, that a female resident doctor was raped while on duty at UCH. Anybody hearing this would like to know the authenticity of this claim. So also was the programme presenter who challenged him if he was serious with what he was saying. Alas! Nothing was heard about the allegation again.

If resident doctors in UCH cry foul and demand justice, they should not thrive on lies and cheap propaganda. We challenge the association of resident doctors in UCH to provide a proof or witnesses of the acclaimed assault on the said resident doctor. Can the case of assault on the said resident doctor be established?

As it has been the case in previous events (e.g. cited above), rather than this resident doctor being the victim, she was actually the aggressor. It is therefore not surprising to read about the blackmail targeted at the Medical Laboratory Scientist from the incident as a fall out of the Medical Laboratory Scientists vs. Pathologists long standing imbroglio and the recent realities dawning on them that the days of impunity are over. The ongoing effort by the resident doctors to attract public sympathy when indeed she is the culprit is tantamount to an offender reporting first to the police to pervert justice on the ground that she was the first complainant and this will not work because the public is well informed about their antics.

We hereby demand that the ARD in UCH:

1. Provides proof of assault on the resident doctor in question

2. Should immediately through another press briefing/interview, retract the said publication and

3. Tender apology to the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, UCH Chapter, Ibadan for defamation and misleading report all in a bit to garner public sympathy.

AMLSN members as law-abiding healthcare professionals are known for seeking redress in court in the face of intimidation, harassment and flagrant abuse of power by our friends in the sister profession of Medicine and Surgery. We shall continually depend on the instrumentality of the laws of the land to seek justice and eventual liberation from the modern day professional slavery by the pathologists who are full of professional chauvinism.

May God bless Nigeria!!!

Signed:

ODEDOYIN, OLADAYO OGUNNIYI, ABIODUN

CHAIRMAN GENERAL SECRETARY

ODUSANYA, ‘BUKOLA

Other briefing - Lab Scientist Assaults a Medical Doctor at UCH Haematology Department

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Quotes of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

2016-03-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

December 1912 – January 15, 1966
Prime Minister of Nigeria (1960–1966)
By Abubakar (Nigerian Government) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

"The First of October 1960 is a date to which for two years every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward."

Independence speech on 1st October 1960

"Independence speech on 1st October 1960

Today's ceremony marks the culmination of a

process which began fifteen years ago and

has now reached a happy and successful

conclusion."

Independence speech on 1st October 1960

"All too soon it has become

evident that for us Independence implies a

great deal more than self-government."

Independence speech on 1st October 1960

"Cooperation is for each man to be true to

his religious belief and to reaffirm the basic

principles of his particular creed."

First speech of Nigerian Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"Many of the new African States are, indeed,

potentially rich and should contribute to

improving the world"

First speech of Nigerian Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"Economic weakness is evident in a new

country open to every kind of pressure and

results in other countries depriving its people

of the freedom to choose a form of

government which they feel suits them best"

First speech of Nigerian Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"we shall not forget our

old friends"

First speech of Nigeria Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"The first of these is that Africa must not be

allowed to become a battleground in the

ideology struggle"

First speech of Nigeria Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"Nigeria, a large and

populous country of over 35 million, has

absolutely no territorial or expansionist

intentions"

First speech of Nigeria Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

"First, it is the desire of Nigeria-as I

have said already to remain on friendly

terms with all nations and to participate

actively in the work of the United Nations

Organizations."

First speech of Nigeria Prime Minister at the United Nation General Assembly 7th October 1960

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Lab Scientist Assaults a Medical Doctor at UCH Haematology Department

2016-03-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Press Release
On Friday, 18 March, 2016, a laboratory scientist at the Haematology department, University College Hospital assaulted a resident doctor, Dr Anyanwu-Yeiya of the same department while she was trying to retrieve a slide for review in the treatment of a cancer patient.

The matter having been brought to the attention of the Head of Department of Haematology was quickly referred to the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee who requested the Chief Security Officer to handle the matter.

The Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital has stated that nothing less than justice will be tolerated in this matter as that will not be the first time her member would be assaulted by this group of health workers especially at the Laboratory Departments without the full weight of the law as contained in “Public Service Rule” applied on perpetrators.

It is high time this aggression and undue violence against resident doctors and doctors in general at the University College Hospital is fully addressed by the Hospital Management as this will no longer be tolerated by the entire body of doctors at the University College Hospital.

Dr Luqman Ogunjimi & Dr Olusegun Olaopa
President & General Secretary

By: Olaopa Olusegun
UCH, ARD News

Streamlining Health workforce in Nigeria (Medical Laboratory Scientists/Pathologists)

2016-03-19T10:00:00.003-07:00

The Nigeria health system which has been plagued by needless crises. Such crises are derive from the unbridled ambition of certain categories of health worker to assuming the role that is doubtfully beyond naturally allowable and morally acceptable. There are repeated episodes of 'supremacy' violence associated with her members in a bid to take law into there hands in some teaching hospitals in Nigeria, a behaviours strongly frown at in the Nigeria Civil Service rules. If a particular workforce is associated with a particular nauseating trait then it maybe time to review the training and orientation of such category of work force.

Wikipedia defined a medical laboratory scientist (MLS) (also referred to as a clinical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory technologist) as a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, histopathological, cytopathological, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens. Medical laboratory scientists work in clinical laboratories at hospitals, physician's offices, reference labs, biotechnology labs and non-clinical industrial labs(emphasis the author).

According to Wikipedia, Pathology "is a branch of medical science primarily concerning the examination of organs, tissues, and bodily fluids in order to make a diagnosis of disease". Therefore a pathologist is a specialist in pathology. This is divided in clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, haematology and Morbid anatomy and histopathologist.

It would be established from these definitions that both categories of health worker work on the same 'tool' and they both work in medical laboratories. Just as doctors and nurses in the same ward 'work' on the same patients. The doctors would not chase the nurses away and vice versa. It is working relationship that has to be sustained to ensure excellent outcome for patients.

Although Nigeria practitioner of MLS have decided to choose the seemly glamourous name ''MLS' especially because the inclusion of the word 'medical' the descriptive term is same as medical laboratory technologists. The Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) in Nigeria were Medical Laboratory Technologist(MLT) which really is what it is even in Nigeria until a few years ago. However since anything goes in Nigeria, they were able to dubiously metamorphose to a 'status' that they want to do away with pathologists and their needed leadership in the medical laboratories in Nigeria. They want to change from the globally acceptable pattern of both pathologist and MLS working in the laboratory and the former providing the needed leadership derived from their training. The question is should professional group merely get legally reassignment from globally acceptable job description and seeking to put into disarray the normal order in our teaching hospitals?

The MLS in Nigeria is on the same status as Medical Laboratory technologist anywhere in the world any judiciary assignment would be be alien to international best practices. Would it be morally right for Judiciary officers get legal injunctions that turn them into lawyers overnight? In US,Canada, France and UK our dear MLS are equivalent of Medical laboratory technologist- MLT.

To further explore these issue it would be necessary to examine the international health work force classifications.

Continue: Streamlining Health workforce in Nigeria 2

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The unbroken record

The unending rivalry in Nigerian health sector

2015-07-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

It is a known fact that intra-professional rivalry is one of the issues bedeviling the Nigerian Health sector aside other issues of poor funding. etc.

Recently the issue has gotten to boiling point but the institutional memory that would be implanted in the new products of each health workforce group appears to be eroding. The generation that don't know what and how things are have been produced. Some laboratory scientist think it is not out of place to diagnose, investigate and treat by them alone likewise some Pharmacists want to diagnose and treat in there shops.

Such unhealthy rivalry have costed Nigeria dearly. Such rivalry fought the National Health Bill(NHB) to almost standstill just because of two clauses millions we deprived of benefit of NHB. It is a recurrent factor in appointment of Health Ministers. The cacophony usually is that Minister must be anybody in health sector but must have managerial skills. Most of them would not even quote the NIM Act(the act regulate those in managerial positions) to know who a manager should. Many of such commentators would rush to cite US and UK examples forgetting such countries have statutory offices of Surgeon General and Chief Medical Officer.

The voice and agitation against the Ahmed Yayale Report has not simmered notwithstanding it is the this ugly issue the committee was meant to address.

Nigeria policy maker must look the way of International Labour Organisation(ILO) which Nigeria is a member. According to ILO the health workforce include Physicians, Nurses, midwifes,dentists,Pharmacists, laboratory workers, environmental &public health workers and health management and support staff etc. However the classification is based on skill level and skill specialization meaning all is not classified at the same pedestal. The professionals are Physicians, Nurses& Midwifes and Pharmacists while technicians and associate professionals include medical assistants, dental assistant, physiotherapists, opticians and sanitarians etc.

How gradually did our qualifications in Nigeria did not match international classification is topic for another discussion.Now there are degrees classified as associate professional internationally spending as much as 5 years seeking to be place on same pedestal as pharmacists or even doctors.

Interestingly, those privy to Ahmed Yayale report know that the committees toe the path of international best practices. Why are people opposing International best practices?

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The unbroken record

The Unbroken Record

2015-06-28T04:32:00.002-07:00

On June 28th 2007, the then President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua declared his asset publicly one month after being sworn in. It was a clear departure from mere submission to Code of Conduct Bureau as required by constitution. This was even done when there was not Freedom of Information bill to force the any public spirit individual to sought the declared information.

President George W. Bush shakes hands with President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria, as he welcomes him to the Oval Office Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, at the White House. Said President Bush, "Mr. President, I am impressed by your commitment to reform, your adherence to the concept of rule of law, and your belief in transparency. And I congratulate you for being a strong leader." Source: Wiki commons

The details entailing total assets of N 856,452,892 was released through Special Adviser to the President (Communication) Mr Segun Adeniyi to the public. The information was release in fulfillment of his campaign promise.

There has been no civilian or military President has done same while in office as a president and also in the span of time this was achieve.

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Gen Buhari words on the Marble!

2014-12-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

The venue was 10th anniversary lecture in memory of General Sani Abacha, the late Nigeria Head of State in Kano in June 2008. General Muhammadu Buhari(GMB) in company of two former Head of States asserted that the story that "late Gen. Abacha was a thief as a fairy tale".

The media was agog.(The Nation, GAMJI and others )The then Action Congress spokeman Lai Mohammed responded has reported in The Nation " it was ridic

General Muhammadu Buhari
Image credit: Adapted from image

ulous and curious for the former Heads of State to have waited 10 years before finding their voices to defend Abacha"

Transparency International(Global Corruption Report for 2004) had previously labelled the dead General as the fourth corrupt leader in the world that did not sway the General from making that denial. However, GMB had served under the late General as the Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) so he should know quiet a lot about the Government. In the defense of the dark goggled General said at that the ceremony “Ten years without the late Abacha, the said allegations remain silent because there are no facts,”

In the last 7 years the following has happened

AC has evolved into ACN and merged with other parties to became All Progressive Congress(APC)
GMB has become one of his flag Presidential Aspirants with Lai Mohammed still the spokeman of the new party.
A lot of money have been recovered from General Sani Abacha worldwide(See below)
GMB have not made any statement about his biased opinion despite his soaring anti-corruption credential.

Record of recovered money from General Sani Abacha, see any of these

Go to HOME

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I Knew Babangida Was Planning To Overthrow Me-Buhari | TheCable | Sahara Reporters

2014-11-02T01:06:00.000-07:00

I Knew Babangida Was Planning To Overthrow Me-Buhari | TheCable | Sahara Reporters

Punch Newspaper team sha!

2014-10-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Punch Editorial team is an interesting one!
They put up this!

But on the same page they want us to share on facebook, tweet and email. So before you share on your facebook timeline you must contact Punch Newspaper!!!

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Who are JOHESU?

2014-10-18T01:40:00.000-07:00

JOHESU means Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). The body is an amalgamation of all bodies of all health workers’ bodies working in Nigeria Health System except doctors i.e. those with Medical and dental qualifications.

The union includes
• Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria
• National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives
• Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions
• Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals

• Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals

Associations	Constituents Workforce	Acronyms
Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria	1. Health Attendants 2. Health Assistants 3. Health Technicians 4. Health Technologist 5. Health Officers	MHWUN
National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives	1. Nurses 2. Midwives	NANNM
Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions	1. Administrative staff 2. Research institution staff	SSAUTHRIAI
Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals	1. Physiotherapists 2. Medical Laboratory Scientists 3. Pharmacists, 4. Occupational Therapists, 5. Optometrists, 6. Dieticians 7. Medical Social Workers 8. Clinical Psychologists, 9. Dental Therapists	NUAHP
Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions.	Juniors Staff not in any of above	NASU

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For Their Tomorrow We Gave Our Today : Selected Speeches of IBB

Oyo-Ibadan- The commuter nightmare

2014-10-14T11:24:00.004-07:00

The Oyo-Ibadan Expressway have become motorists' nightmare! In fact that stretch now constitute the worst part of route between Ibadan and Ilorin.

Prior to 2011, the whole length maybe deem to be terrible i.e Ilorin to Ibadan,however the portion between Ilorin to Ogbomosho was completely dualised so also the Ibadan to Oyo end leaving Oyo to Ogbomosho axis.

This undualised stretch is now one of the worst strategic Federal highway in the country. Most traffic to North-Western and the Western part of the Middle belt of the country would most likely pass through the road.

Nowadays the old undualised part get repeatedly block forcing the road users to follow the uncompleted supposedly dualised road. This road can not be said to be good even in it partial uncompleted state. The abandoned project too is in a terrible state as shown in the video just below.

Many commuters now spend many hours with many logistic heavy vehicles trapped on the old road.

A visit to the construction company's shed -RCC revealed an almost abandoned construction shed. The question is when would the road be complete considering it strategic importance. Hope the project is not already buried in the cacophony of 2015 election.

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My dear Nigerian Medical Laboratory Scientist

2014-10-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

It is necessary to examine the agitation of some health workers in Nigeria. This agitation which have persistently fuel disharmory in the Nigerian Health sector through plain brigadary and evoking of unnecessary strikes.

Even though MLS may have recently through legislative means change what they are called in Nigeria in many other climes they are still referred to as Medical Technologist, Clinical Scientist, and Clinical Laboratory Technologist. Yes Technologist, even though the other people attain such through bachelor degree also.

Interesting in many countries such degree are attained with just 3,4 or 5 years of multiple semesters work. The last year is clinical attachment under the various program. In United States most centres run 4 years program! Why 5 years in Nigeria? Should it be same duration as stuff loaded Pharmacy course or compete with Mighty Medicine course in term of duration? Should students file class action against their council for subjecting them to long duration of program which may not be of “International best practice” in a strike riddle system?

Note that the last clinical year in US program is with little or no compensation and they work as full time employee. Could it be that MLS in Nigeria is over indulged?

In US, it is same body that accredit pathologists who are doctors that accredit Medical laboratory Scientists just as same body regulate pharmacists, Pharmacy technician and pharmacy technology in Nigeria. This was after the merger of American Society for Clinical Pathology and National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel. Could the emergence of supra-body for Nigerian pathologists and MLS sanitize our laboratory in Nigeria? Would it bring about unity of purpose in Nigerian laboratory system and fast track the necessary development?

Nowhere in the world do Medical Laboratory Scientists work in isolation since their test is not an end in itself. The results are tools in the hand of the physicians. The laboratory is like the ward- there are doctors and nurses while in the laboratory especially Tertiary institutions the clinical laboratories are domain of pathologists, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Medical laboratory Technicians working as a team!.

Residency training for MLS is almost non-existent in most countries of the world. If there is postgraduate program it is PhD route. Why would it be different in resource constraints environment like Nigeria? Why will we not follow the most economic path for health manpower production? World Health Organisation does not even talk about MLS per population ratio!

It is not global common standard practice to work alone under autonomy they ask for. They either work in Clinical laboratory, Hospital, Physician’s Office, Reference Laboratories, Biotechnology laboratories and Industrial laboratory etc.

What specializing is necessary again for Nigerian MLS? After 5 years they are either microbiology MLS, Clinical Chemistry MLS, Hematology MLS and Morbid Anatomist MLS. Isn't that specializing? Those ends in itself are what is necessary to work in any hospital Just as a nurse does not require PhD to work on the ward! Nurses too don't spend donkey years to specialize, one or two years of post basic and they can work in any specialist team.

Should MLS join force with gateman and security men in name of JOESHU to cause health Industry disharmony in Nigeria?

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Oops! Nigeria Independence Day and the Google image

2014-10-01T14:08:00.002-07:00

Get on the net to make a post! I opened the Google opening page and I saw the Nigeria Independence Day poster. It was colourful no doubt. However it made a different sense to me and not likely what Google intended.

The Nigerian commoners are celebrating the independence but in penury! The tricycle and "okadas" have come to signify that! The reality is that the Nigerian economy was better in the 70s and 80s than now. God help Nigeria.

Below is the capture screen image from my computer.
Google is definitely wishing us well. But as a nation we need to reflect. We should be better.

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Biggest Missing Money scandals in Nigeria

2014-09-25T10:16:00.003-07:00

Biggest Missing Money in Nigeria (Capturing the scandal of biggest missing money in the Nigeria public sector)

The Nigerian

Scandal of

Missing things

❶1976

$2.8billion - Missing from the Nigerian National Petroleum Coporation(NNPC) account in Midlands Bank, U.K

❷ 1990

$ 12.2 Billion (2 Trillion Naira) accrued during the 1990 Gulf war oil(Gulf Windfall) was said to be missing.

❸2012

$ 1.18 Billion (N195 Billion Naira) Police Pension’s Fund was said to be missing.

❹2013

$ 3.3 Billion (N500 Billion Naira) SURE-P funds was declared missing!

❺2014

$ 20 Billion (N3.3 Trillion Naira) was reported to be missing from NNPC proceeds of crude oil sales.

Missing! Missing!! Missing!!! Story of missing money!!!!

Nigeria always] have stories which are scandalous.Bad enough the outcome of the missing money never generate as much noise as the onset of noise about the missing money.

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Madam Okonjo Iweala & Reforming the unreformable

2014-09-08T20:49:00.004-07:00

It was rewarding shelling out three thousand naira for what looks like a non-pirated copy of Reforming the unreformables recently written by Okonjo Iweala. I was certainly not disappointed as I devour it within 24 hours.

It was a firsthand expose on managing the previously battered economy of Nigeria during the Obasanjo years.Personally, I consider it an objective presentation and not the usual Nigeria writers' attempt at self-adulation or self-praising.

Hope by the time she write her years in Jonathan Government she would not be be revealing how she became captive of her earlier successes. Such possibility that can happen after a person succeeds in a task or mutitudes of tasks. This, she alluded to in the book.

Madam Okonjo Wahala hope you will deliver once more.

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More on Nigerian Resident Doctors and FG

2014-08-27T07:23:00.002-07:00

The current impasse between Nigerian Resident Doctors and Federal Government is a course for concern. There is no doubt Nigerian populace need the service of specialists since 70% of Nigerian can’t afford the

Courtesy: Lokal_Profil

ticket to Ghana if they need specialist or tertiary care talk less of advanced medical care in India if need be.

The bulk of resident doctors in Nigeria are directly under the Federal Government in Nigeria, as much as 80%. Others are in the employment of the State government and private (for profit and non-for-profit) hospital. Although some of the state employed doctors are sent to Federal owned institutions for training as supernumerary. Very few wealthy individuals or those with wealthy sponsors go through the programmme with their funds. The implication of the latter example would mean the person is proving free service to the Government. This would be explained in latter course of this piece.

Medicine as a course has an undergraduate part and postgraduate part just like most other course under the sun. One of the strongest ways it depart from others is the level of competence at each stage. At undergraduate level the product comes out at lower level of competence compared to the postgraduate level. This again is like most every other course; however in this ongoing example the degree of competence is overwhelming. It can be described simplistically like assigning undergraduate product as maybe a toddler and a postgraduate product who is a fellow of one of the postgraduate college as a full adult with responsibility. Interestingly, he or she owns the patients in clinical settings.

A fresh input called registrar into a postgraduate training programme of West African College of physician or Surgeon& National Postgraduate Medical College is most time green once entering most of specialty programme. His previous knowledge from undergraduate programme is like ABC. A good example is a Neurosurgical Resident, his first few days in residency training programme is not likely to be entirely be déjà vu.

The question I know in many people’s mind is, do we really need residency training programme in Nigeria? It is like asking do we need Sub-lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major in Nigeria army or any army for that matter. The lower rank would rise to be Generals who have competence to control the whole army while the lower rank commands the platoon, squad, and units.

The consultants are not just mere nomenclature of a high Civil Service post. In America they are called Attending which is gotten by level of tested competence attained.

Worldwide medical residency is an established pprogramme which most countries strive to have and a strategic Human Capital development at that. A unique thing about it is they provide us with services while they are training and do some research. They all go pari passu. They can’t train without service and vis versa. The programme can’t be run online except patients to be managed by outputs are going to cyborgs and robots! The place they render service is also where they undergo training.

The labour market has a way of responding to this scenario. The market for the product of medical school can’t be substituted for the products of the postgraduate programme who are fellows of the various colleges. Though legislature prevents that but the deeper reason is to protect the patients from being sacrifice on the altar of differential level of competence if it is not in place. A first degree medical graduate is a general medical practitioner who has a lower level of capacity compared to a postgraduate fellow who has undergone a specialist programme. The former can manage certain range of disease while the latter can manage certain range of diseases. Usually the medical school training can range between 6-7years without ASUU strike while the postgraduate residency training varies between 4-7years for good candidates and also depend on specialty. This period is not without it vigour and intensity at both levels.

In Nigeria, this training of resident doctors are done in Teaching Hospitals mainly, although the Federal Medical Centres does too. Anyway as hospital they would require manpower, doctors inclusive. However, the best doctors to fill such centres or facilities aside the consultants who are authority in their sphere of knowledge, are Resident Doctors. This is an efficient path to follow because resident doctors would render their service; they have on average motivation to specialized having in the first place gotten into one and replacement for the consultants who would one day leave the system.

The question one would ask is why the programme not ran like Phd programme in many universities? The answer is not farfetched. Clinical Medicine in all it ramification is both an art and science. Clinical Medicine cannot be learnt without a form of apprenticeship! So the specialist trainee should have a programme that is clinical and residency based.

Someone maybe quick to add that there are Phd programme in some medical fields but one should not confuse the academic nature of such programmes and clinical nature of residency programme.

Back to our issue of discussion, the tertiary hospitals which include Teaching Hospitals and Federal medical Centres fill their manpower need for doctors in the most efficient manner. The resident doctors need the training while the Federal Government need their service to cater for the populace. Such residents are in level 12 and 14 of Federal Service grade levels. They are civil servants but a temporary one. After training they seek appointment as a consultant. Finishing the training programme by passing relevant examination does make the doctors specialist in field they have undergoned training. Also they are conferred fellows of the training college but it is appointment in a suitable hospital that makes them a consultant.

Achieving this process using doctors who have to rise by bidding time in Civil Service would be counterproductive. Assessment they say drive learning. Deep learning is important in Medicine because they are responsible for life of patients.

By placing in civil service grade as contract staff more or less while other civil servants are on established tenure reveals a departure between the two categories. Same is analogy is applicable to medical officers and their resident counterpart who start off in Civil Service together. The former has established tenure which he or she can bid the time and rise to the peak. The Resident doctors in Nigeria after completion of training seek a place to practice as a consultant. This may mean being trained in Yenagoa and taking up appointment in Sokoto.

Now there is a no major difference in salary of medical officers and Resident Doctors as it is today. They are being paid for the services they are rendering.

Now it must be said that some centres pay Residents examination allowance and update course allowance. They are ameliorative expenses and it should not be misconstrued. All civil Servants undergo on job training and opportunity for courses etc. These payments are just mere human capital investment which are necessary. All organization that aim to grow should invest in man, with money and machine to grow. It is sensible for such centre that calls themselves specialist centre to invest in specialist training.

Another place some may quickly point to the National Postgraduate Medical College but the answer is not far fetch. Medical specialists are distinct professional group, although higher in a broader group of Medicine, a Government should have a say in the matter. It should be noted that there is West African Health Organisation which has West African College of Physician or Surgeons. Therefore the aforementioned is not mere funding but the need for regulatory input which in itself is a general responsibility of Government.

As it would have been layout, the Government own facilities where Resident doctors work, services are rendered. That is almost similar to a Master degree holder employed by University Graduate Assistant where he or she participate in research and teach and these services are paid for.

The argument of some people that Nigerian Resident doctorsshould not be paid rather they should be paying Federal Government should not suffice. The question to such people should be that should tax paying citizen be rendering pro bono service at the prime of their life. The scenario such people want maybe applicable if Medicine can be adequately learnable online and distant learning and not apprenticeship.

Medical residency training should not only stay but should be improved as means of upgrading Nigeria health sector.

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The Nigerian Government and Trust issue

2014-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Trust is a necessary ingredient in any enduring social relationship. This includes the relationship between citizens and the Government.

Without trust there would be a distrust which breeds apathy, confusion, despondency, grand scale cynicism and unnecessary social tension. The social cost can be enormous.

Can an average Nigerian be said to trust our various Government at various level. Housing for all by year so, so… and many citizens takes it has another empty word of Government. Or take another example like the total megawatts by so and so years but it fails to elicit any mass belief by majority of the citizen.

The Association of Academic Staff Union (ASUU) has repeatedly found it difficult to trust Government leading to repeated strike action. Similar pattern of bad social contract have been displaying itself with the Nigerian Medical association. The Judiciary staff and Museum staff unions have cried same thing in the past. Can’t the Government be honorable and be ingrained with the will to the rightful.

If the men or women in Government lie in words and actions, the followers would strike bad with the most extreme of weapon. If they fail push policies in path of truth they are not likely to get neither patriotism nor loyalty. Similar they are not likely to get good bond that should cement the relationship the leaders and the followers. Our leaders where is your trust?

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Has the job gone?

2014-08-22T04:24:00.001-07:00

It is no longer news that the People’ Democratic Party(PDP) led Government has laid off about 16,000 Resident Doctors.

Courtesy: Lokal_Profil

In normal climes reasons for such large scale lay off include bankruptcy of the employer, low profitability or other general issues that may necessitate institutional downsizing. However in Nigeria, such an action was precipitated by none of the aforementioned reasons rather a poorly thought out executive fiats similar to those heard during military regime.

Since the reason for such an action by Government is not due to aforementioned wouldn’t it be circumspect of the Government to weigh such an action carefully.The whole doctors practicing in Nigeria can’t be more than 40,000; consultants, house officers, old doctors and private practitioners inclusive. Out of this number a Government of the “people” decides to sack almost 40% of his doctors’ workforce and possibly 66% of doctors in Federal Civil Service.

So much for the transformation agenda! In a single swipe Government aggravated the already poor effective Doctor: Population ratio. To the Government, decapitation appears to be a better medication for headache. Exhaustive dialogue, pro-activeness and other advanced effective negotiation tools was less appealing compared to sudden dumping of such manpower.

If the Government has the love of the people at heart, before such action a replacement should be waiting. Rather than sack and chase a futile solution of replacing 16,000 highly trained manpower.

It would be interesting as a tax payer to ask where the replacement would come from. Is it from the globally insufficient pool which is much more attracted to very green pasture of Europe and North America? If they even trickle in would they be able cope with infrastructure depleted facilities? Or would the Government be able to pay in a globally competitive manner?

Certainly the Government must resolve issues that precipitated action that led to the punitive action after reversing this draconian action.

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2013-11-18T09:49:00.007-08:00

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How to Be Organised? Tips to Get Organised

2013-11-18T09:49:00.005-08:00

Author: Daniel J. Hill (D-Funkdafied)Disorganisation is something you should really avoid throughout your whole life. But, the most important times to be organised are when you really need to relieve a lot of stress, save time and to feel better. Being well-organised is an essential quality to have during your exam period in school and further education. Your adult life will also need to be well-organised especially if you\'re an employee or an entrepreneur that actually wants to make an honest living and become successful. Or, maybe you just want to be organised for general and personal reasons. Either way, this article will help you understand the meanings of being well-organised and how to achieve it, CORRECTLY. 1. http://bit.ly/1f8myYG

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How to Be Organised? Tips to Get Organised

2013-11-18T09:49:00.001-08:00

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Network-Marketing: How to Create an Asset

2013-11-18T08:50:00.005-08:00

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2013-11-18T08:50:00.003-08:00

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