Doctors at work

The Senate on Tuesday directed Federal Ministry of Health, National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant agencies to come and address the National Assembly on the plight of new medical doctors awaiting residency.
 
However, no date was fixed for the engagement but it was resolved that a convenient date would be taken and communicated to the stakeholders.
 
The invitation followed a motion by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP Abia-North), who decried the prevailing situation where qualified medical officers were finding it difficult to get places for residency jobs.
 
Ohuabunwa said that residency was very key to medical practice in the country 

‘’as malaria alone is responsible for 20 per cent of deaths in Nigeria’’.
 
He said that children and women were the most affected by inadequate resident doctors, revealing that pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections were responsible for 19 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria.
 
``Over 140 people in Nigeria die every day from pregnancy and prenatal related consequences, even after recovery.
 
``Our nation is not doing enough to improve the health facilities and lower death rate in our country even by African standards.
 
``These can be relevant to how we have addressed the important conditions and timeliness of the training of new doctors who can begin to take new responsibilities,” he said.
 
Adopting the motion, the lawmakers summoned the ministry, NUC and relevant agencies to appear before them to explain the reason for the situation and enunciate ways to address it.
 
They also urged the Federal Government to authorise the Nigerian Medical Council to consider the accreditation of more centres for the training of house officers.
 
Meanwhile, the senate expressed regret on the death of Dr Gamiliel Onosode, a former presidential adviser to for President Shehu Shagari, who died on Sept. 29.
 
It resolved to send a high power delegation to the family of the late renowned businessman and administrator.