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LequteMan
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Dr. Osahon Enabulele, president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abuja on Sunday announced the suspension its plan for its members to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday.
“The NMA convened an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Saturday, Jan. 4 to reappraise the efforts made so far to meet its demands,” he said.
“The resolve to suspend the strike is as a result of the possible impact of the withdrawal of services by medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria on ordinary Nigerians,’’ he said.
He added that the strike was also suspended in order to allow for full implementation of all elements of the agreement between the association and the government within set time lines.
“Some of the welcome developments in the implementation of the MoU reached between the NMA and the Federal Government of Nigeria include the decision by the Federal Government to redress the gross injustice done to doctors.
Others are the “establishment of a Hospital Development and Intervention Fund for health infrastructure upgrade, appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation and expansion of Universal Health Coverage,’’ Enabulele said.
The association had embarked on a five-day warning strike from Dec. 18 to 22, 2013, over the demands.
Enabulele also acknowledged ``several honest appeals made by well-meaning people of Nigeria and our friends in the fourth estate of the realm for more time to be given by NMA for dialogue with government.’’
He applauded the ongoing efforts and commitment of President Jonathan to address some of the association’s demands.
“The NMA convened an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Saturday, Jan. 4 to reappraise the efforts made so far to meet its demands,” he said.
“The resolve to suspend the strike is as a result of the possible impact of the withdrawal of services by medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria on ordinary Nigerians,’’ he said.
He added that the strike was also suspended in order to allow for full implementation of all elements of the agreement between the association and the government within set time lines.
“Some of the welcome developments in the implementation of the MoU reached between the NMA and the Federal Government of Nigeria include the decision by the Federal Government to redress the gross injustice done to doctors.
Others are the “establishment of a Hospital Development and Intervention Fund for health infrastructure upgrade, appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation and expansion of Universal Health Coverage,’’ Enabulele said.
The association had embarked on a five-day warning strike from Dec. 18 to 22, 2013, over the demands.
Enabulele also acknowledged ``several honest appeals made by well-meaning people of Nigeria and our friends in the fourth estate of the realm for more time to be given by NMA for dialogue with government.’’
He applauded the ongoing efforts and commitment of President Jonathan to address some of the association’s demands.