The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has sent the names of current and past Ministers of Health to a Disciplinary Committee for trial following their alleged negative actions and stance on issues pertaining to welfare of members in particular and the health sector in general.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Association held in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
“The activities and actions of some past and current top officials of the Federal Ministry of Health who are our life members which were viewed as inimical to the welfare and progress of the association” the communiqué stated.
Reading the communiqué, the NARD President, Dr John Onyebueze said that all the programs they have been doing have brought negative impacts and influence in the Health sectors and the Association. He explained that Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu was a life member of the Association, and that Prof Adewole and Balami were past Presidents of the Association.
“They were all like me, they were President seated like me and piloted the affairs of the Association and that is why we find it difficult to believe, to imagine, to contemplate that, some of the things we hear about them and some of the things we see them do, that such persons who have led this Association, such persons of repute in the Health sector would be found wanting in those areas” he stated.
“That in view of the negative actions and stance of the following life members of our Association on the aforementioned issues, Prof Isaac F. Adewole, Dr Wapada Balami and Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, they are hereby referred to NARD disciplinary committee for adjudication and further action” the President emphasized.
“Our members begin to wonder, are Doctors not capable enough to manage Health sectors, if we have Minister of Health who is a Medical Doctor, all the Directors in the Federal Ministry of Health are Medical Doctors and yet we will be having persistent crisis in the Health industry”
“And the Banker, an Educationist, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly Health Institution Committee, is solving the problems in the Health industry, the country should be able to rethink, what we wants is the square peg in the square hold not a round peg in a square hold, we want people that will bring result to this country” he said..
The association however, gives Federal Government 21 day-automaton to address several issues raised by the association as it affects health sector and welfare of its members, “At the end of the 21 days, we will reconvened in Abuja to appraise progress and if there is an improvement in all the issues we have raised, if efforts have been made in solving the problems, we will appreciate the government for doing”
“But if sufficient efforts have not been made, we are not sure we may not guarantee that our members will continue to work especially, the enrolment of our members into the IPPI platform” The association according to the President will bestowed on some Nigerians membership honorary award who have excelled in administration of health services as well as taken matter affecting members as paramount.
“Our Association will also show some respect and appreciation to some members in the profession and outside the profession who have uplifted the Health care services: Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association Remuneration Committee and Nigeria Medical Association Chairman Abuja FTC”.
”The Association will also convey the Association life membership award to Senator David Mark, former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a Senate President, he was involved in the mediation of the crisis in the Health sector throughout his tenure”.
“Through those mediation, there was reduction in crisis and disharmony in the Health sector, we also convey Honorary membership award to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon Betty Apiafi who has done tremendously well especially in solving the problems in the Health sector, they are not Doctors,” he pointed out.
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