NMA suspends indefinite strike over Ebola outbreak

.urges FG to withdraw sack of over 16000 doctors

By Doyin Ojosipe

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called off its national indefinite strike after 55 days. Reason being to allow its member attend to the Ebola outbreak Briefing newsmen yesterday, the Association Chairman, Dr. Kayode Obembe said it was necessary, following the emergency of Ebola outbreak in the country. The Association had called for a total and indefinite national strike, July 1st, after handing the federal government, a 24 point demand as ultimatum, which must be met or face an industrial action. The prolonged strike action had drawn a lot of criticisms from both Nigerian populace and other health workers, who said the doctors were being greedy and selfish. Dr. Obembe  revealed that an emergency meeting was held at the weekend and the resolve to call of its longest strike ever embarked on was to enable doctors  respond to disease burdens, sufferings and aspirations of ordinary Nigerians. The association demanded that Federal government withdraws its action of the mass sack of resident doctors, addind that they form about 70% of doctors workforce and can’t be cheaply displaced, “delegates demand immediate withdrawal of the government circular suspending the residency training program and sacking of over 16, 000 resident doctors, who constitute about 70% of doctors workforce in Nigeria”, it said. It also urged the federal government to commend its kind gestures by allowing resident doctors resume their work without any punitive measures. The association president also confirmed that while other pressing issues have been met, others are still on the negotiation process. “circulars have been Issued that only doctors whose degrees are registrable with the Nigerian Medical Council can use the title consultant and also, we have been able to extract also that the post of deputy chairman, Medical Advisory Committee has been reinstated”, he said. The Association further commended the Federal and Lagos state governments on efforts made so far to contain the Ebola outbreak in the country.