The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, UDUTH, Sokoto Chapter of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has defended its members' decision not to participate in the eight-month strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, claiming that their action was aimed at saving the country's healthcare system from complete collapse.
The medical lecturers noted that Nigeria already suffers from the worst brain drain in its history, with a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:10,000 instead of the recommended 1:600.
They also noted that any interruptions to medical education would worsen the already severe shortage of medical professionals in the West African sub-region.
MDCAN stated that the university administration had officially confirmed that the medical lecturers carried out their academic duties during the strike period and had written to inform the minister of this fact.
In a statement released on Friday, the medical lecturers noted that the country's remaining few doctors are suffering from the worst burnout in recent memory.
The statement which was signed by Dr. B. Jibrin, Chairman, and Dr. I. G. Ango, Secretary, disclosed that medical students at UDUS were finishing up their postings and getting ready for their exams on February 14, 2022, when ASUU began its strike during the daytime when classes were in session.
"These postings were briefly disrupted but due to the University’s understanding of the peculiarities of medical education and practice and the belief by medical lecturers that this critical sector cannot withstand these disruptions; the CHS was encouraged to proceed with outstanding postings which culminated in the conduct of examinations for students, including the final year students,” they said.
The statement read in part: “The MDCAN UDUTH chapter has noted once again with dismay the recent press statement issued out by the ASUU-UDUS Branch on Wednesday 2nd of November 2022 calling to question the integrity of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. (Sen) Chris Ngige, the Vice Chancellor of UDUS and the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, UDUS in carrying out their lawful duties.
" It has become necessary to set the records straight for the benefit of the general public, to protect the validity of the degrees of our students, and for posterity. We strenuously dissociate ourselves from the said statement and hereby wish to state the facts as they are.
“The ASUU embarked on a strike on 14th February 2022 whilst students were in session. Medical students in UDUS were in the final stages of their postings and being prepared for their examinations.
“These postings were briefly disrupted but due to the University’s understanding of the peculiarities of medical education and practice and the belief by medical lecturers that this critical sector cannot withstand these disruptions; the CHS was encouraged to proceed with outstanding postings which culminated in the conduct of examinations for students, including the final year students.
“The Honorable Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity alluded to this in a press briefing he gave on 14th of July 2022 and ASUU-UDUS Branch contradicted the Minister despite being fully aware of the conduct of these examinations.
“The MDCAN had to clarify the true position of things to the Minister that the postings and examinations of the students took place.
“The University administration went further to officially confirm that the medical lecturers indeed performed their academic duties, and this was communicated to the Minister in writing.
“The Chairman MDCAN UDUTH Sokoto has not either privately or publicly denied the fact that the postings and examinations for the students were conducted by the medical lecturers.
“The ASUU-UDUS Branch Chairman is aware of all of the above. We are all aware that Nigeria is facing the worst brain drain in its history. Nigeria today has a ratio of doctors to patients of 1:10,000 as against the recommended 1:600.
"The few doctors left are experiencing the worst burnout in recent history. The College of Health Sciences, UDUS is the only fully accredited institution for training medical doctors in the former Sokoto State comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
“Any disruption of medical training will further worsen the already acute shortage of medical doctors within the sub-region.
“Realizing this emergency in the sub-region worsened by emerging public health threats, the medical lecturers in UDUS decided to continue the academic activities during the ASUU strike to save our health care from total collapse.
“To this end, the UDUS medical lecturers agreed to conduct lectures and examinations during the period of the strike. In line with the provisions of the labor act we wrote and sought the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity to ensure payment of our salaries.
“The Minister, having carefully reviewed our submission and that of the University Management, obliged. This is not an act of favoritism as alleged by the ASUU, UDUS branch leadership in their press statement.
“The ASUU, UDUS branch, as an association, is expected to protect the interest of all its members and appreciate the differences or peculiarities of medical education.
“The ASUU can legitimately fight for its lawful rights without trampling on the rights of others. The MDCAN is often compelled to step in to protect the rights of its members who are also University staff. We hope this response has put the issues in their proper perspective."
The Usman Danfodio University Sokoto, UDUS, Chapter of ASUU had claimed that the Minister of Labor and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige attempted to divide and sectionalize the union by paying salary selectively to professional medical members.
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