COMMUNIQUE OF THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NMA) ISSUED AT THE END OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL/SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AND DELEGATES MEETING HELD AT HAMDALA HOTEL KADUNA FROM 23RD - 26TH APRIL, 2008.

PREAMBLE

The Nigerian Medical Association held its Annual General/Scientific Conference and Delegates Meeting at Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna from Wednesday 23rd of April 2008 through Saturday 26th April 2008. The theme was “Health Care Delivery as an Index of National Development” and sub themes were “Emerging and re-emerging diseases; Medical Tourism - what prospects for Nigeria? and Continuing Medical Education for Practicing Physicians in Nigeria”.

Declaring the conference open, the state Governor, His Excellency Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo (fnia) ably represented by his Deputy Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, said that the theme of the conference was apt at this time when the country is trying to chart a new vision (vision 2020) for the country. Using his state as an example, he called for harmonious relationship between health care providers and their employers and stated that this cooperation has contributed immensely to the achievement of his Government in the Health Sector. He said that due to enhanced welfare and deliberate policy of his government, his state has successfully replaced brain drain in the health sector with brain gain. He enjoined the conference to brain storm and proffer suggestions as to how to improve the health indices of the country particularly Child and Maternal Mortality rates.

The President Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua in his goodwill message to the conference congratulated the NMA for organizing the Annual General Conference. He called for partnership between the Government and the NMA so as to ensure that Nigeria attains the MGDs by the year 2015.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Daniel Gana, mni, reiterated the importance of the theme of the conference but lamented that Nigeria despite her size and resources parades very poor health indices which have direct correlation with national development indices. He regretted the collapse of Primary Health Care and chaotic and neglected Secondary and Tertiary Health Care. He advised government to embark on holistic measures to salvage the health sector if not declaring a state of emergency in the sector.

The opening ceremony was climaxed with the investiture of the first lady, Hajiya Turai Musa Yar’Adua as the matron and ambassador extra-ordinary of the Association on Infant and Maternal Health.

Resolutions

The conference went into scientific session where the main theme and the sub theme were examined. After exhaustive discussions, the following resolutions were made.

1. The conference noted with regret that many Nigerians have no access to safe drinkable water, a situation that has led in recent times to increase in water borne diseases with its attendant high casualty in the most vulnerable group,children under five. The conference therefore recommends that every community should be provided with portable water as a matter of right.

2. The conference resolved that NMA must engage governments at the Federal, State and Local Government levels to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are implemented, as Nigeria needs to accelerate reduction in Maternal Mortality and Mortality in Children under five years due to malnutrition and other endemic diseases.

3. The Association notes with regret the obvious omission of representatives of the Association from the recently constituted Vision 2020 of the Federal Government and calls on the government to correct this anomaly as there cannot be meaningful discussions in the social and health areas without medical input.

4. The conference instituted a memorial lecture in honour of the late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti to be delivered at the Association’s non-election Annual General/Scientific Conferences and Delegates meeting.

5. The conference frowns at the practice in some states of the federation where Nigerian doctors are employed on contract and admonishes the states involved to convert such appointments to pensionable ones, or offer such indigenous Doctors the same remuneration/welfare package as the foreign ones. In deed, the Association believes that we have enough indigenous Doctors from other states that can take-up such appointments in needy states.

6. The Association resolved that NMA will dialogue with Government to discourage situations where state governments go abroad to recruit doctors in areas where specialists abound in the country.

7. The NMA appreciates the current efforts of the FCT administration to re-allocate the Association’s land. The Association pleads for a speedy conclusion of the process to enable developmental activities commence on the land.

8. The Association notes the efforts of various organs of government aimed at resolving the wage crisis in the health sector especially doctor’s request for MSS and MSSS. The Association looks forward to a speedy resolution of the issue at both the executive and legislative arms of government to prevent further collapse of services in the health sector.

9. Ogun state was granted the hosting right of the next Annual General/Scientific Conference and Delegates Meeting of the Association.

Elections

Following the dissolution of the National Officers Committee (NOC) of the Association, Elections were conducted and the following candidates emerged victorious: Dr. Prosper I. Igboeli – President; Dr. Bala Mohammed Audu – 1st Vice President; Dr. Alan Taiwo – 2nd Vice President; Dr. Kenneth J. Okoro – Secretary-General; Dr. Chris Enoch – Deputy Secretary-General and Dr. Ibrahim Kana as Treasurer.

By this victory, they are to pilot the affairs of the Association for the next two years.

Appreciation

The National Officers Committee (NOC) wishes to expresses our profound appreciation to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua, His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo (fnia), the First Lady/wife of the Governor of Kaduna State, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji (Dr) Shehu Idris and the entire people of Kaduna State for their immeasurable contribution to the Annual General/Scientific Conference. We thank members of the Local Organizing Committee and the entire members of the Nigerian Medical Association Kaduna State branch for a successful hosting.

Dr. Prosper I. Igboeli President

Dr. Kenneth. J. Okoro Secretary-General