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By Stephen Adeleye
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi chapter, says its members are not on strike but available for consultations in all the health facilities across the state.
The Chairman of the chapter, Dr Tijani Godwin, in a statement on Saturday in Lokoja, also said that drugs and laboratory investigation among others could be outsourced in the interim.
“The NMA in Kogi wishes to inform the public especially our esteemed patients that doctors are not on strike and would be available for consultation in all the health facilities in the state.
“Drugs, laboratory investigation among others can be outsourced in the interim.
“We call on management of all hospitals to support doctors as they continue to render services to the patients, by ensuring safety of doctors, access to equipments and clinic offices
“We urge all our members across the state to continue to render selfless services to our patients in spite the ongoing strike action by other health workers in the state,” Tijani said.
The association noted that Nigerian doctors had never at anytime opposed to agitation for improved welfare or career progression of other health workers, but any review of salaries must accommodate relatively in line with best international practices.
The NMA, therefore urged health workers in the state to thread with caution in joining National JOHESU to press home ‘their’ demand so as not to jeopardize the goodwill of the State government.
According to Tijani, the state government has been very supportive of the health workforce in the state in terms of their rightful remuneration.
“Other federal health workers have been on full CONHESS since 2010 and did not do anything to support the state chapter to achieve same”.
“Therefore, NMA is calling on government at all levels to tour the path of truth and call ‘a spade a spade’, to bring to an end these unnecessary recurrent crises in the health sector.
“The government of Nigeria will do well to fully implement the report of ‘Yayale Ahmed Presidential Committee’ on industrial harmony in health sector’.
“This we believe will enshrine international best practices. Our medicine cannot be different from where we borrowed it”, he said.
NAN reports that the striking Joint Health Sector Workers (JOHESU), had on Wednesday directed all its members in states and local government-owned health institutions to join the industrial action.
(NAN)
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