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Tag: #Agam Ayuk

  • Breaking News: NMA Cross River Branch Suspends Total And Indefinite Withdrawal Of Medical Services

    Breaking News: NMA Cross River Branch Suspends Total And Indefinite Withdrawal Of Medical Services

     

    By Elijah Ugani- Calabar

    The Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River branch has suspended it total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services across the state, following the resolution of the meeting by the 17 man committee sent by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 to resolve all lingering issues, the Cross River ministry of health and NMA.

    NMA in a communique made available to TheLumineNews, jointly signed by the President and Secretary of the association, Drs. Ayuk Agam and Ezoke Epoke calls on the state ministry of health to keep to and respect all resolutions reached during the 17 man delegation visit.

    Find full text of the communique.

    NMACRS/SG/2020/07/259
    7th July, 2020

    COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, CROSS RIVER STATE BRANCH AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 7TH JULY, 2020

    PREAMBLE
    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Cross River State branch held an Emergency General Meeting on Tuesday July 7, 2020 to appraise the issues that led to the withdrawal of medical services by the Association.

    The Association made the following observations and resolutions:

    1) We are most grateful to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha and the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire for the timely 17-member delegation from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) led by the Executive Director/CEO National Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Faisal Shuaib that arrived Calabar on 6th July, 2020 to set up a COVID-19 response strategy in Cross River State that will align with the national response.

    2) We deeply appreciate the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for the activation of two (2) COVID-19 Test Centres at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar.

    3) We also appreciate the NMA President Prof. I.A.O. Ujah (mni), the National Officers’ Committee and members of NMA for their support to NMA Cross River State.

    4) The Association welcomes the official recognition of the five (5) COVID-19 confirmed cases from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital by NCDC which has resolved the lingering uncertainties negatively impacting public health and safety and has provided clarity on the COVID-19 status of Cross River State and the required response strategy.

    5) We enjoin the Cross River State Government to keep to the resolutions of the meeting held between PTF/FMOH COVID-19 delegation, Nigerian Medical Association – Cross River State branch and the Cross River State Ministry of Health signed on July 7, 2020.

    6) The Association hereby suspends the total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services in all public and private hospitals in Cross River State with effect from today, 7th July, 2020.

    7) We appeal to citizens of Cross River State to follow the NCDC guidelines on infection prevention and control, while reinforcing our commitment to working with the Federal and State Governments to contain the spread of COVID-19.

    8) We sincerely thank the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme and Management of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, the Immediate Past NMA 2nd Vice President, Dr. Ofem Enang, Immediate Past Chairman, Dr. Effiong Mkpanam, Past Chairmen of the Association, distinguished Medical Elders and members of Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State branch.

    9) We appreciate the media and citizens of Cross River State for their understanding, patience and support during this challenging period.

    Dr. Agam E. Ayuk
    State Chairman

    Dr. Ezoke Epoke
    State Secretary

  • Covid-19: Cross River State Records 5 Cases

    Covid-19: Cross River State Records 5 Cases

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC had uploaded the controversial 5 cases of covid 19 positive cases in the state as was reported by the management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

    This development must have settled the altercation between the Cross River State government and UCTH management as well as clear the doubt about the actual state of things in the state.

    The altercation which also had the Nigerian Medical Association being at war of words with the state government, had led to NMA withdrawing from public service in the state and requested NCDC to offer explanation as to why it refused to upload the result sent from UCTH.

    With this upload, one could be believe that UCTH, NMA and other professional medical bodies in the state has won in what many had described as a propaganda to discredit the efforts made by the Cross River State Government in the fight against Covid 19.

  • COVID- 19: NMA launches online health connect services in Cross River

    COVID- 19: NMA launches online health connect services in Cross River

    BY Gorge Odok Jr. – Calabar

    The Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River has launched a free Healthcare Connect Service at the Calabar Women and Children Hospital for residents in the state.

    Launching the Connect Service on Saturday in Calabar, Dr Ofem Enang, 2nd Vice President of NMA, National, said the service was meant to connect residents in the state with qualified healthcare personnel in view of the stay at home order of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Enang said that the launching became necessary in other to help residents access quality healthcare within this period.

    According to him, the Connect Service will ensure that residents in the state are linked up with specialist on different medical fields to attend to their health needs.

    Speaking, Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr Agam Ayuk who gave out the numbers, 09081599993 and 09081599994, urged residents to call and lay complain whenever they have health challenges and needed prescriptions or referrals to any health facility for treatment.

    Ayuk said that with the stay at home order of the government, suspected Covid-19 cases and others who may have other healthcare needs may be prevented from accessing desired or required healthcare.

    He explained that hospitals and other health institutions were doing everything possible to keep crowds away from the hospitals.

    “As we prepare to contain Covid-19, we must not lose sight of other health challenges faced by the populace, especially the vulnerable in Cross River and beyond.

    “Our consulting rooms are scanty for the above stated reasons; pertinent questions that should bother us as healthcare providers are; has Covid-19 made other diseases to suddenly disappear?

    “If the answer is no, where are the patients receiving care? If they can’t get to the certified professionals, are they seeking help from quacks or they just remain at home and bear their burden and wait for dead?

    “The focus of the Connect Service is to provide citizens the go-to-place to access evidence based, Covid-19 public health and safety information”, he said.

    He further said that the Connect Service will also identify and manage other health problems requiring over the counter medications based on standardized protocols.

    According to him, the centre will also request essential laboratory tests, where necessary for patients with minor health problems based on standardized protocols.

    “The centre will also provide remote consultation for patients with chronic illness for the purpose of ordering medication refill or schedule hospital appointments for them with their respective hospitals to keep them safely away from the public.

    “The e-health centre will also provide online triage of respiratory infections and scheduling special appointments for these patients with relevant hospitals.

    “The centre will also provide those on schedule healthcare appointments with a valid, verifiable electronic pass to see their respective doctors and home service when necessary for the elderly”, he said.

    • The Connect Service is headed by Dr Elihu Osim, the Chairman of Information and Communication Technology Committee.