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Tag: Nigeria Medical Association

  • I thought I was going to die – Ufuoma McDermott struggles with kidney disease

    I thought I was going to die – Ufuoma McDermott struggles with kidney disease

    Renowned Nollywood actress and producer Ufuoma McDermott has opened up about her battle with Stage 4 kidney disease, sharing how her reliance on painkillers to cope with chronic pain led to a severe health crisis.

    In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, McDermott recounted how her health issues began after the tragic death of her younger brother, who also suffered from kidney disease. 

    McDermott stated that initially she was diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney disease, which then progressed to Stage 4 due to delays in seeking medical attention.

    She said in part, “When I tell people I can afford to put on weight, I don’t want to die. I have little children.

    “I had pushed my body, and I was borderline stage 4. Last year was a very trying time in my life where I thought I was going to die. I have battled chronic kidney disease for about 12 years now.

    “But I was negotiating with the doctor about my life; she said I need you to go home, I need your blood pressure to drop, and take my medications.”

  • Ondo Government Recruits Health Workers

    Ondo Government Recruits Health Workers

    Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa  says the state government is recruiting health workers to fill the gaps in the health sector.
    He said this while speaking at the 47th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association.
    Aiyedatiwa was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka who disclosed that the government is implementing policies to address gaps in health service in the state.
    He said that the state health insurance scheme would allow the government to fund the sector significantly.
    “Our Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has identified the gaps in the health sector and is bridging these gaps every day. He is providing quality health programmes for the people of the state.
    “He has employed more health workers to fill the vacancies left behind by those who left the country for greener pastures,” Ajaka stated.
    This is as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo state chapter, hailed the state government over the approval of the implementation of enhanced Salaries for medical doctors through the domestication of the new consolidated medical salary structure.
    The outgoing Chairman of Medical practitioners in the state, Dr. Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, who made this commendation, said this development will further boost the welfare of medical doctors in the state.
    He noted that the current economic challenges have forced many doctors to seek opportunities beyond Nigeria’s borders, fleeing to escape hardship, poor pay, difficult working conditions and unemployment.
    “These challenges are forcing many health workers to leave the country with their families in droves.”
    He, however, said that despite the mass exodus of medical doctors and others, some have decided to remain to serve their fatherland in the health sector, commending his colleagues for their doggedness, perseverance, and courage to remain and serve in Nigeria.

  • Doctor To Patient Ratio In Jigawa Now 1:21k — NMA Laments

    *Says Jigawa has highest record of braindrain in Nigeria

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed concern over shortage of doctors in Jigawa, with the current ratio of one doctor to 21,000 patients in the state.

    The NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Aminu Abdullahi, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday to commemorate the 2023 Physicians Week, said “Jigawa has the highest record of braindrain in the country.”

    The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standard is one doctor to 600 patients.

    The chairman, therefore, lamented how brain drain negatively hit the state, which allocated 16 per cent of its 2023 annual budget to the health sector.

    He said that the association is worried about the sad development.

    “This is because ours is a bi-directional bran drain, both within the country, that’s to other states of federation and outside the country.

    “We have about 350 doctors working in both state and federal health facilities.

    “The NMA chapter in Jigawa has 350 doctors catering for seven million people in the state.

    “Currently, the doctor/patient ratio in Jigawa stands at about 1: 21,000, against the WHO standard of 1/600 patients.

    “The ratio is similar to that of nurses and other health workers in the state. This is one of the worst ratios in the country, which will significantly affect our health indices.

    “It is also worthy of note that Jigawa was among the early states to implement CONMESS and CONHESS salary structure for healthcare workforce back in 2011, which made it one of the highest paid states in the country back then.

    “The current challenges bevelling the health sector as a whole honestly call for sincere, deliberate and fact guided discussions concerning our healthcare delivery system.

    “With the current economic realities the nation is going through, there is no better time to make the healthcare delivery system in our dear state more efficient and responsive than now.”

    The NMA chairman said that the theme of the 2023 Physicians’ Week — “This is our chance to get it right in the health sector” and the sub-themes “The Abuja Declaration 22 years after” and “Ethical issues in human organ donation” — are in tune with the current realities in the health sector.