Health professionals, workers protest against ministry’s leadership

THE Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU/AHPA) have passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole.

The group prayed the Federal Government to restructure appointments at the ministry to balance the interest of the cadres of health professionals.

According to JOHESU/AHPA, the body language of both the FMoH headed by Prof. Adewole and that of Minister of Labour and Employment has revealed their unwillingness to solve the problems inherent in giving other professionals in the health sector a sense of fairness and justice in the scheme of things.

The body said the main reason for this is that the two ministers in charge of Ministry of Health were picked from the same profession.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire is the Minister of State for Health and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is a renowned medical practitioner, whose ministry arbitrates all trade disputes, including those from the health sector.

JOHESU/AHPA noted that their members’ situation is further worsened by the appointment of the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Amina Shamaki, who is also a medical doctor.

In a statement made available to The Nation, the group said Prof. Adewole and his NMA colleagues have become the most formidable stumbling blocks to the career advancement plans of health professionals, especially as it affects the consultancy cadre.

According to the unions, the composition of the leadership of the Ministry of Health has affected welfare of health professionals and workers.

The workers mentioned the alleged assault of JOHESU leaders at Irua Specialists Hospital, Irua, Edo State by a medical doctor, who is the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital. It was alleged that he slapped the hospital’s branch Chairman of JOHESU against the existing Public Service Rules, adding that the case and others have not been redressed.