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Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa move against medical quackery

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Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa governments have adopted proactive regulations and monitoring mechanisms to end medical quackery to fasttrack quality healthcare service delivery.

Officials of health agencies and other stakeholders said the measure was imperative to sanitise medical profession, end malpractices and safeguard public health in the respective states.

The health experts spoke in separate interviews in Bauchi, Gombe and Dutse while responding to a survey on monitoring and regulation of health facilities by government agencies.

They defined quackery as the practices involving false knowledge of a particular field.

Quacks are found among doctors, nurses and other health personnel.

According to the experts, quackery is one of the major problems bedeviling the Nigeria’s health sector in spite of its negative consequences.

They listed some of the negative impacts to include increase maternal and childhood mortality; increase unemployment rate of registered nurses and midwifery, discredit medical and nursing education, poor treatment outcome and weakened healthcare system.

To address the menace, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Bauchi State, constituted an anti-quackery committee to enhance monitoring of public and private clinics.

The NMA’s Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Kabir, said the measure would enhance access to quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.

He said the committee was mandated to investigate alleged malpractices and report to the state Ministry of Health for appropriate action.

“The association set up a sub committee saddled with the responsibility to seek public and staff opinion on the operations of private clinics.

“In the event of suspected malpractices or compromise in the services rendered, the committee will investigate and notify the Ministry of Health on the matter.

“The ministry, NMA or the Dental Council will take action. NMA plays an advisory role in monitoring private health facilities,” he said.

Kabir warned that erring members of the association found wanton in the course of monitoring or investigation would be sanctioned.

In Gombe, the state government said it only certified registered and licensed medical workers to operate, according to Dr Arnold Abel, Director Medical Services in the state Ministry of Health.

This, he said, was part of proactive measures adopted towards achieving quality healthcare service delivery through sound regulations and monitoring.

He, however, said that state governments were not expected to regulate training and practice of medicine, rather they only construct, equip and provide the requisite manpower needed for health facilities.

“The Gombe government adopted measures to ensure compliance in terms of licensing of medical officers.

“The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) only regulates the training and practice of medicine in Nigeria, but doesn’t have any role whatsoever in the establishment of hospitals.

“However, all doctors practising in the state must renew their licences every year before being granted licences to practice.

“Other health professionals are also required to be licensed by their appropriate regulatory bodies.

“Regulations are necessary for standardisation and supervision to ensure that healthcare bodies and facilities comply with public health policies to enable them to provide safe care to all patients in the health system,” he said.

According to Abel, the Private Hospitals Registration and Regulatory Authority (PHRRA) under the Director of Medical Services of the ministry is statutorily responsible for inspecting and granting licences for new private hospitals.

The hospitals, he said, are required to pay the necessary registration fees to the government.

“The PHRRA visits hospitals annually to ensure that they practice in conformity to the laid down regulations, and the Authority has the powers to sanction erring private facilities through suspension and even outright permanent closure (revoke licences).”

In the same vein; the Jigawa Maternal Accountability Forum (JiMAF), has stepped up surveillance activities to enhance accountability and quality service delivery in health facilities in the state.

The JiMAF’s Evidence Committee Secretary, Alhaji Isa Mustafa, said the forum established Word Development Committees (WDCs) across the 287 wards, to monitor operations of health facilities across the state.

JiMAF comprises representatives of the civil society organisations, media, development partners and the public sector.

Similarly, the state governor, Umar Namadi during a recent visit to the General Hospital, Dutse, frown at the unbecoming behaviour of some health workers allegedly found selling free drugs meant for women and children.

He said the action sabotaged government’s policy on free healthcare for children and lactating mothers.

The governor, who expressed dismay over the poor state of the facility, directed for adequate monitoring and supervision of all health facilities to enhance quality healthcare service delivery in the state. 

Health

Unijos Donates Medical Equipment to JUTH

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The Management of the University of Jos has donated an upgraded Tissue and Renal Equipment to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

Prof. Tanko Ishaya,  who presented the equipment to JUTH management in Jos, said it would facilitate kidney and other organ transplant on patients.

”These medical equipment were procured through N1 billion grant offered this institution by  Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund).

”This  will save Nigerians millions of dollars on oversea trips to treat kidney related diseases,” he said.

The vice chancellor advised JUTH to put the equipment into good use for the benefit of humanity.

 Reciving the items, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, Dr.

Pokop Buptwatda, thanked the university for the gesture

Represented by Dr Ishaya Pam, former CMD of the hospital, Buptwatda  revealed that the equipment had been test run to carry out successful kidney stones surgery on two patients, adding that seven other patients were booked for same surgery.

”With these equipment on ground, JUTH will become a referral kidney plant centre in Nigeria.

”It will bring succour to people, because many Nigerians are suffering from kidney and other related diseases.

‘The Tissue Laboratory is the first of its kind in Nigeria

”Already, medical personnel from the

Department of Medical Microbiology, JUTH, are currently undergoing thorough training on how to effectively and efficiently use the equipment,” he said. (NAN)

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Health

Disney Nwanne Foundation Urges Federal Government  to Reconstitute Medical and Dental Council Board

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By David Torough, Abuja

Disney Nwanne Foundation, a patients’ rights advocacy non- profit organisation  has called on  President Bola Tinubu to urgently reconstitute the board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The MDCN is responsible for regulating the practice of medicine and dentistry in Nigeria, and its board has been vacant since the expiration of the terms of its previous members in 2020.

“The absence of a properly constituted MDCN board is a serious threat to patient safety in Nigeria,” said Martins Obi Nwanne,  Convener of Disney Nwanne Foundation.


“The MDCN is responsible for setting standards for medical and dental education, licensing doctors and dentists, and investigating complaints of professional misconduct.
Without a board in place, these essential functions are being neglected” he said in a statement at the weekend in Abuja.
Disney Nwanne Foundation is a patients’ rights advocacy nonprofit organisatiin that works to protect the rights of patients and improves the relationship between patients and their caregivers in Nigeria.
The Foundation provides education and resources to patients, and advocates for reforms to the Nigerian healthcare system

According to the Foundation, the lack of a properly constituted MDCN board has led to a number of problems, including:
” delays in processing applications for medical and dental licenses
“backlog of complaints of professional misconduct and
lack of oversight of medical and dental schools”.

These problems are putting patients at risk. For example, without a properly constituted MDCN board, it is more difficult for patients to ensure that their doctors and dentists are properly trained and licensed. Additionally, it is more difficult for patients to file complaints against doctors and dentists who have committed professional misconduct to conclusive effect.

“The federal government of Nigeria has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of its citizens,” said Nwanne. “By failing to reconstitute the MDCN board, the government is failing to meet this responsibility.”

Disney Nwanne Foundation urged the federal government to take immediate action to reconstitute the MDCN board as the health and safety of Nigerian patients depends on it.

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Health

Medical Practitioner Tasks Tinubu on Security

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…..Medical Practitioner Tasks Tinubu on Security

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

A medical practitioner and chief executive of Shawaline herbal products, Dr  Shawalin Igwe has called  on president Bola Tinubu to improve security in the country with some new ideas.

Igwe made the call during an Interview with DAILY ASSET correspondent in his office in Abuja.

The medical practitioner said a new approach was necessary if  the present administration wants to succeed in the security sector.

He pointed out that,every state has a governor who was the chief security officer of the state, and it was his duty to make sure the security was guaranteed as this could be done by carrying all the security agents along  , chairmen of local governments and make sure it goes down to the grassroots not only the state capital.

Igwe also said, the community chiefs should be tasked on security matters, stressing this would make information flow.

The medical practitioner urged that people found wanting or breaking laws and order should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others .

“A country where nobody is punished for doing wrong, will only encourage more wrong doings” and urged the president not to include emotions and political affiliation towards fighting insecurity in the country.

Igwe further stated that ,there must be snergy between the judiciary and executive in fighting insecurity, justice should not be delayed in law courts so as to give the public confidence in the system.

While appreciating the media for their contribution so far in raising the alarm concerning , Igwe said the media has a major role to play in the fight but quickly added that the government needs to motivate and protect them to operate , especially reporting security and other news .

He added that the security personnel should be equipped with modern equipment to fight insurgency, and a compensation model should be introduced to the families of  fallen security personnel who died fighting to protect the country so as to motivate the ones alive.

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