BIG STORY

HEALTH: Resident Doctors Threaten Strike In Bayelsa

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2023

The Association of Resident Doctors, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital branch said the Bayelsa State Government has refused to do anything about the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the Nigerian Medical Association on August 14, 2020, to domesticate and implement the Medical Residency Training Act, which led to the suspension of its strike in 2020.

The association said the state’s refusal to honour its promise had made it difficult for resident doctors to go for courses, seminars and register for examinations, especially now that the postgraduate examination bodies have increased their fees by almost 100 percent.

This was contained in a communiqué signed by the President, Dr Aseimo Namara, and General Secretary, Dr Ambaka Frank, after an emergency meeting of the association.

The communiqué read in part, “If this trend continues, the manpower gap in the areas of specialised and sub-specialised medical care in our dear state will continue to widen as well as increase brain drain.

“Congress observed that the chronic and perennial shortage of manpower in the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital has become unbearable, with its negative attendant effects on patient healthcare as well as the health and wellbeing of our members, who are physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted and fatigued.”

The association regretted that the development is coming despite assurances of the state government in the past two years to employ more doctors.

It regretted that the total number of resident doctors in the teaching hospital is less than the number of resident doctors in a core department in the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

The association lamented that the appeals to the Bayelsa government over the last 30 months had not yielded tangible results.

In its resolutions, the association demand action from the state on the passage and transmission of the MRTA to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for domestication.

The communiqué added, “Congress respectfully demands that the state government should commence payment of medical training grants through executive fiats as is done in other states as a stop-gap measure, while we await the domestication of the MRTA. This will enable our members to register and prepare for the April/May postgraduate examinations this year.

“Congress also demands that more Resident Doctors be employed in the Teaching Hospital without further delay to reduce burnout effects and fatigue on our members, thus converting brain drain to brain gain.”

The doctors then issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state, taking effect from February 1 till February 21, stating that if the above concerns were not adequately addressed, it would embark on a week-long warning strike without recourse to further notification.

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BIG STORY

Federal Government Earmarks N827bn For Education Infrastructure In 2025 Budget

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced that the Federal Government has disbursed a total of N34bn in loans to students studying at tertiary institutions across the country through the “Nigeria Education Loan Fund.”

The President made this statement on Wednesday while presenting the N49.7tn 2025 budget estimates to a joint session of the National Assembly. He also highlighted that the government has allocated N826bn for infrastructure development in the education sector for the 2025 fiscal year.

He stated, “Our administration has so far disbursed N34bn to over 300,000 students via the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.”

“In the 2025 budget, we have made provision for N826.90bn for infrastructure development in the educational sector. This provision also includes those for the Universal Basic Education and the nine new higher educational institutions.”

He continued, “We are convinced that Universal Health Coverage initiatives will strengthen primary healthcare systems across Nigeria. In this way, we have allocated N402bn for infrastructure investments in the health sector in the 2025 budget and another N282.65bn for the Basic Health Care Fund.”

“Our hospitals will be revitalised with medication and better resources, ensuring quality care for all Nigerians.”

“This is consistent with the Federal Government’s planned procurement of essential drugs for distribution to public healthcare facilities nationwide, improving healthcare access and reducing medical import dependency.”

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BIG STORY

President Tinubu Targets N1,500 Per Dollar Rate In 2025 Budget Goals

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, stated that the Federal Government aims to stabilise the exchange rate at N1,500 to the dollar to ensure the smooth implementation of the 2025 budget.

This marks a reduction of about N200 from the current rate of N1,700 to a dollar.

President Tinubu made this known while presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the 11th National Assembly in Abuja.

“The budget projects that inflation will decline from the current rate of 34.6% to 15% next year, while the exchange rate will improve from approximately N1,700 per dollar to N1,500. The base crude oil production assumption is set at 2.06 million barrels per day”, he said.

“The projections are based on the following observations: reducing the importation of petroleum products, increasing exports of refined petroleum”. He added.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: 32 Reportedly Die In Ibadan Children Programme Stampede

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2024

PorscheClassy News

At least 32 people have tragically lost their lives during a stampede at a children’s carnival in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday.

A statement from the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, revealed that the stampede occurred at a private children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Basorun, resulting in the deaths of 32 people, mostly children, with some others sustaining injuries.

He mentioned that the state government promptly deployed a rapid response team to the site following the incident.

The commissioner confirmed that the victims have been transported to various hospitals across Ibadan for medical treatment.

While thanking the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for quickly activating all available response teams to assist at the scene, Oyelade emphasized that the state government will do everything possible to support the victims of the stampede during this difficult time.

He noted that the sate government was not involved in the planning of the carnival, adding that the Ministry of Health was also not carried along in the organisation of the private end of the year children funfair.

Oyelade emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and elders.

“We are currently awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in this unfortunate incident,” he said.

The commissioner urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan where affected children were taken for proper medical attention, with a valid means of identification:

Patnas Hospital, Basorun
Western Hospital, Basorun
Ringroad State Hospital
Molly Specialist Hospital
University College Hospital (UCH)

“Oyo State Government extends its deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy while also urging the public to remain calm and cooperative as relevant pieces of information are gathered and necessary supports arranged for the victims,” he added.

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