Headlines
NMA raises alarm on doctors brain drain in health sector
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State Chapter, has advised the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to address the worsening brain drain of medical doctors in Nigeria through reduction of examination fees.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Chairman of the chapter, Dr Usman Ali gave the advice at the opening of this Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association in Kano.
He advised that relevant authorities, such as the Federal Ministry of Health and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria should do everything within their power to minimize the brain drain by reducing examination fees at all levels.
“We advise the relevant authorities the Federal ministry of health, national postgraduate medical college of Nigeria to do all it could to reduce the current worsening brain drain in the country by bringing down examination fees at all levels,” he said.
Dr Ali further reminded the NMA members on the reported cases of monkey pox and the need to ensure necessary precautionary measures as WHO declared it global health emergency.
He stated: “I will like to use this medium to remind us that the monkey pox has also been reported in travelers from Nigeria to other parts of the world, as WHO declares Monkey pox as a global health emergency. We should ensure preventive measures.”
The Chairman also called on the Kano State Government to release the residency training allowances to doctors that are preparing for the forthcoming medical examinations.
According to the Chairman, the theme for this year’s AGM dwells on enhancing financial strength of their members considering the uncertainties, adding that “ the theme of the AGM is Financial Intelligence; A Gateway to Financial Independence. The choice of the theme is appropriate at this time full of uncertainties. This is followed with some scientific session.”
He said his tenure as the NMA Cahirman had consolidated on the success of his predecessors toward improving the welfare of their members in the State.
Describing his tenure in the last two years, the Chairman stated that: “We evolved novel ideas to improve the welfare of our doctors. We formed in addition to the existing ones, a revolving funds committee thereby giving a sense of belonging and responsibility to a wider scope of members spread across the length and breadth of Kano State. These committees have worked tireless to change the phase of the Association positively.”
Dr Ali who commended members of the association for their support and cooperation in leading the affairs of the NMA asserted that five of their members passed on during the period.
“I wish to at this junction express gratitude to your contributions as members of NMA Kano Branch. We have worked tirelessly to run the affairs of NMA Kano we built on the solid foundation of our predecessors and maintained constitutional and traditional obligations of the NMA to the glory of God Almighty for the grace to paddle the ship of the Association in the right direction.
“During this time however, we lost some of our colleagues – Dr. Abdulhamid Isah Dutse, Dr. Abdulmalik Abdulmumin, Dr. Nasiru Isma’il, Dr. Zulkiflu Ismail and Dr. Rabiu Alhassan. May their souls res in Jannatul Firdausi.”
The Chairman further clarified that NMA would not participate in the nationwide proposed protest by the NIgeria Labour Congress (NLC) but would support its affiliates that are affected by the lingering strike in the NIgeria’s public universities.
“We have three of our affiliates that are part of the university system. We have the Association of Medical Doctors in the Academia, those that are teaching clinical students and Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria as well as doctors that work in the University Health Services.
“We have been supporting them in one way or the other and we will continue to support them until the issue is resolved,” he noted.
The AGM, According to Dr Ali, commences on Monday and end on 30th July with election and swearing-in ceremony of new leadership of the NMA in the State.
We Won’t Participate In NLC Protest
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State chapter, has stated that it would not participate in the proposed nationwide protest by the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) slated for Tuesday and Wednesday to pressurize the government to accede to the demand of the university lecturers.
The chairman of the chapter, Dr Usman Ali, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association in Kano on Monday.
Usman Ali said although they are not happy with the industrial action in the universities that affect their affiliates in the academia NMA does not have plans to join the protest.
“We have three of our affiliates that are part of the university system. We have the Association of Medical Doctors in the Academia, those that are teaching clinical students, and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria as well as doctors that work in the University Health Services.
“have been supporting them in one way or the other and we will continue to support them until the issue is resolved,” he noted.
He further called on the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to address the worsening brain drain of medical doctors in Nigeria.
Dr Ali advised that the relevant authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Health and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria do everything within their power to minimize the brain drain by reducing examination fees at all levels.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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