Health
New NMA Boss Assures Medical Doctors Of Fair Deal
The new chairperson of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State branch, Dr Obelebra Adebiyi, says the primary focus of her administration would be to improve the healthcare needs of the people of the state.
Dr Adebiyi, who made this known in an exclusive interview with The Tide shortly after her election last week, stated that one way to do this is to ensure regular training for doctors in the state.
“What I’m looking at first as chairman, is to partner with government in improving the health indices of the citizens of Rivers State, one way to do that is to build the capacity of doctors, because there’s a big gap in the training of medical doctors”, she said.
She explained that bridging the existing gap would be one sure way to raise the health standard of the state.
Beyond this, Adebiyi said she would also work towards ensuring that doctors in the state work closely together towards improving their personal security and their welfare.
“Another thing that is paramount in my mind is the welfare of doctors. This is because when you work and you are properly remunerated you are encouraged to work better and accomplish more tasks”, she said.
Consequently, she explained, she intends to ensure that while doctors do their best to alleviate the health burden of Rivers people, they are also duly remunerated.
Speaking on the spate of quackery in the profession, Dr Adebiyi hinted that she has zero tolerance for quacks.
“We are already on it (quackery), but one of what I intend to do is to partner with the Ministry of Health and Private Medical Practioners and go round checking for genuinely registered doctors and clinics.
“We’ll also educate the populace on what to look out for when they go to any clinic to ascertain if such clinic or hospitals are duly registered or not”, she explained.
It would be recalled that Rivers State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association last Thursday elected new executives to run its affairs for two years with the emergence of Dr Adebiyi as the Chairman.
The election took place at the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Secretariat in Port Harcourt, during the 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific conference.
Dr Adebiyi, polled 444 to defeat Dr Alikor Chizindu to second place with 401 votes, while Dr Peterside Sofiri polled 101 to place third.
For the position of first Vice Chairman, Dr Robbinson E. Donald polled 511 to emerge winner, while Dr Tamuno-Opubo Abiye (329) and Dr Uriah S. Sylvester (118) emerged second and third respectively.
Dr Princewill Obele was unoppolsed as second vice chairman.
Other positions vied for were: Secretary, which saw Dr Briggs A. Dennis (403 votes) and Dr Diamond Tamunokuro E. (539 votes).
Assistant Secretary: Dr Kue D. Soghian was unopposed, while for the position of Financial Secretary, Dr Olaka E. Walter polled 655 to defeat his opponent, Dr Gbaraner B. Kekii, who polled 248 votes.
Dr Dublin-Green Anucha worn as treasurer with 498 votes, while her opponent, Dr Ohaka J. Chindah polled 437 votes.
As Public Relations Officer, Dr Anunye P. Chinenye returned unopposed.
The election conducted by a committee headed by Dr Clamel Aban was adjudged to be free and fair.
Other members of the electoral body were Prof Best Ordinorha, Dr Nnesochi Offor, Dr Bernadette Korubo and Dr Ayoko.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.