Ondo FMC boss jumps over fence to escape EFCC arrest

There was a mild drama at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo local government area of Ondo state this Tuesday, when the Chief Medical Director(CMD) of the institution, Dr Abiodun Olufemi Omotosho went into hiding to escape from being arrested by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) during their visit to the Centre.

DailyPost has gathered that it was the third time security operatives would have visited the FMC, but failed to arrest Omotosho.

EFCC had been trailing the FMC boss following an alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the purchase of CT scans and other medical equipment worth millions of naira.
It was gathered that, the security officials were acting on a petition written by some Medical Doctors of the hospital against the CMD led management team over alleged diversion of the money meant for the purchasing of the equipment.


Sources at FMC revealed that the anti-graft agency who went straight to the CMD’s Office did not meet him on seat but met his secretary who claimed the Director was in an important meeting.

It was gathered that the EFCC operatives became suspicious of the secretary’s claims and threatened to arrest her if she failed to tell the truth. Read more from the source

NANNM CEASE-FIRE BY Solomon Danmori

The current cease-fire by NANNM has elicited various reactions from Nurses around Nigeria. Most of these reactions seem to be on the negative, with lots of nurses feeling betrayed by the officials of NANNM. This did not come as a surprise seeing the level of corruption in Nigeria these days, one is quick to assume a compromise. We must give them the benefit of hindsight being in the forefront of our collective struggle. 

Labour activities are carried out like warfare, using strategies and tactics, to out manoeuvre the opponent. The opponent will not seat idle at all, they are also having their own strategies and tactics. As Sun Tsu the Chinese sage wrote in the book, ‘’THE ART OF WAR’’ said that ‘’all warfare is based on deception’’, It is obvious that our leaders must be weary of the deceptions of our government and it seems that is the reason for our fear of a compromise. 

The war of IAP Award has been a long standing one, with many battle fought at different point in time. Both legal, diplomatic, media and labour uprising battles have been fought at different time or the other. NANNM has been winning these battles, and now we are at a point where one can say the last battle is at hand to get a full implementation of this award. Nevertheless, the terrain now has changed, we are now in a democracy, there is now social media and news now travels faster than lightning. It means our modus operandi must change to meet current challenges.

NANNM must not be seen to be insensitive to the pains of Nigerian masses; therefore, if there is any sign of show of commitment from the Government to the struggle the union must have to reciprocate the gesture. Moreover, the ultimatum given to the government and strike notice was not in all intent to have a strike but to put pressure on the government to do the right thing. No union want to go on strike it should be a last resort and an avoidable one at that.

The mere fact that the strike notice has been extended is not a sign of failure, it means many more things. Drawing conclusions will be pre-emptive and prejudicial to say the least. A strike threat usually is conditional and if the conditions are answered, then the goal has been achieved. Going on with the strike will amount to illegality and it will change the tide of public opinion. We need the good opinion of the public, as that is the only way our struggle will make an impact. After all, strikes are meant to draw the sympathy of the public to put pressure on the government. It is imperative therefore, that we do not give the government the opportunity to turn the tide against us. 

Strategically as Sun Tsu said ‘’Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near’’. Forget the mockery from our detractor who think we are weak, let them believe what they one to believe. When the time comes, they will be caught unaware. 

WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH AND HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW AND ON OUR LEADERSHIP. 

ALUTA CONTINUE, VICTORIA ARCERTA.

Leading HIV Provider Organizations Express Concern about HIV Stigma and Human Rights for a Nurse Imprisoned in Uganda

We, as organizations made up of health care professionals caring for people living with HIV, recognize that human rights are universal and are a key contributing factor to quality health outcomes and health equity for individuals and populations.  We are deeply concerned about the serious human rights violations of an HIV positive nurse in Uganda and the subsequent outcome that this event is having not only on her life, but may have on the global fight against HIV/AIDS. We support our colleague Rosemary Namubiru, 64, a nurse with 35 years of experience, charged in Uganda with a series of criminal offenses as a result of a workplace needlestick accident.

On January 7, 2014, while working at the Victoria Medical Centre in Kampala, Uganda, Ms. Namubiru was attempting to give an injection to an ill 2-year-old patient. With the child struggling, the needle accidentally pricked the nurse’s finger; she stopped what she was doing, washed and bandaged her pricked finger, and returned to the child and administered the injection.  Investigation into the incident revealed that Namubiru is HIV positive and on anti-HIV medications. She was subsequently arrested in front of assembled media , thrown in jail and charged with attempted murder. The child has been tested, and is not HIV positive¹. Charges were later downgraded, but Namubiru remains in prison .  In addition to the unwarranted charges, her rights to appropriate representation, confidentiality and the presumption of innocence have been violated in a very public and damaging way.  A firestorm of inflammatory and sensational news media has vilified Ms. Namubiru and by extension, any HIV positive healthcare worker and all people living with HIV. 

Needlestick accidents occur on a regular basis in clinical settings; the World Health Organization estimates that at least 2 million occur annually around the world².  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 99.7% of needlestick exposures to HIV-contaminated blood do not lead to infection³ and the rate may be even better when the HIV-infected person is on HIV medication. Approximately 2 people among 25 in Uganda are living with HIV⁴, including health care workers such as nurses and physicians.  While procedures and equipment must be improved to better prevent needlestick accidents, singling out and unfairly punishing individual nurses or other clinicians does not constitute an improvement and does not advance patient safety or the public health at large.  Arresting and imprisoning Ms. Namubiru for an accident that unfortunately regularly occurs in clinical settings actually enhances stigma and represents a significant setback in the fight for universal human rights and against HIV/AIDS.

Our concerns are for Rosemary Namubiru as an individual and a colleague, and we stand in solidarity with her. We also fear that this case could set a dangerous precedent, in terms of both the criminalization of HIV exposure and the treatment of people living with HIV and AIDS. Human rights violations and abuses directed toward HIV positive people and subsequent stigma and discrimination are fueling the epidemic and are some of the principal barriers to achieving an AIDS free world. Separate laws or workplace policies for people living with HIV are unjust and unwarranted. Fear of disclosure and recriminations will keep people from getting tested for HIV and, subsequently, from accessing the effective treatments that will save their lives and prevent them from transmitting to others.

LAUTECH PART TIME APPLICATION PAYMENT PROCEDURE

To make payment online for the form, follow the steps below:

1.       You MUST have a functioning email address-visit yahoomail or gmail to create a FREE account if you don’t have one already

2.       Visit http://www.admissions.lautech.edu.ng/ptapp2013/index.php and click on HERE TO APPLY

3.       Create an account with your surname,other names,phone number and email address

4.       You will receive a message immediately ON THE SCREEN that there is an error sending your passcode ,your passcode is xxxxxx

5.       Write the passcode down and keep it in somewhere safe

6.       Then click on PAY on the right hand side of the page

7.       Enter your email in the space provided for email and your PASSCODE in the passcode space then submit.

8.       You will be redirected to the online payment gateway with the total payment of #10,300

9.       Click on PAY NOW

10.   Select your card type from the drop down menu and enter your card details

11.   Click PAY and wait for the page to load. #10,300 will be deducted from your bank account if the payment is successful and you will see a message that your payment is successful.

ADMISSION INTO PART-TIME DEGREE PROGRAMMES FOR THE 2013/2014 ACADEMIC SESSION.

Applications are hereby invited from qualified candidates into the Bachelor’s Degree Programmes in the Directorate of Part-Time Programme of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso for the 2013/2014 Academic Session. 

 

A. BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES 

  FIVE (5) YEAR DURATION 

 

 BACHELOR OF NURSING SCIENCE (BNSc) 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Applicants must possess at least five (5) credit passes in SSCE/GCE/NECO at not more than two sittings and the subjects must include English Language, 

Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In addition, the candidate should possess the following:

Registered Nurse Certificate (RN) and Registered Midwife Certificate (RM) or Registered Nurse Certificate plus RPN with at least five (5) years post-registration experience. 

 

 

 

METHOD OF APPLICATION: 

(a) Application forms will be available on-line. 

Access to the on-line facility for registration only will depend on the payment of a non-refundable fee of Ten Thousand naira (N10,000:00) only into any of the following banks; SKYE Bank, FIRST Bank, GT Bank, UBA after which they will be given a payment receipts for the purpose of online registration. Applicants must supply a functional e-mail address during payment at the bank. 

(b) Candidates are expected to register on the University website; www.lautech.edu.ng by completing and submitting the on-line application form and E-mail address. 

(c) In completing the on-line application form, candidates are required to upload a scanned passport photograph with white background showing ears, no cap and no glasses. The scanned passport photograph must be in JPEG (i.e. jpg) and must not be more than 20kb. On submission of the application form, candidates are to print out Referee Form and an acknowledgement page which will give them access to venue of the Entrance Examination. 

 

NOTE: All academic programmes advertised are run on Part-Time basis In LAUTECH Main Campus, Ogbomoso and at the University’s College of Health Sciences (Mercy Land), Osogbo, i.e. on weekends only (Fridays, Saturdays and sometimes on Sunday) except BNSc Nursing that is run on daily basis for a specific period. 

 

Submission of Application: 4th April,2014

Signed 

J.A. AGBOOLA 

Ag. Registrar

Nurses Suspends Planned Strike

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has suspended it earlier planned strike action scheduled to commence on the 24th of February 2014. 

 

A message from the National body stated that the meeting between the federal ministry of health and the leadership of NANNM on the issue of the scheme of service has come out with an agreement addressing the contentious areas. 

 

The NANNM National Executive council in session has extended the ultimatum by government by three weeks. Next week to allow for deliberation on the scheme by the national council on establishment when they meet in ilorin from 24th to 28th February 2014 and the following two weeks for circularization. 

 

You would recall that the planned strike followed government’s failure to implement an Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP’s, judgment given in their favour 34 years ago.

Senate passes national health bill

The Senate on Wednesday in Abuja passed the   National Health Bill 2014 into law.
The bill, which was read for the third time and passed, seeks to establish a framework for the regulation, management and development of the nation's  health system.
The bill is entitled; "A Bill for an Act to Provide a Framework for the Regulation, Development and Management of a National Health System.’’
The bill is also to ‘’Set Standards for Rendering Health Services in the Federation and other Matters Connected There With, 2014". The bill which had been before the Senate since 2013 had suffered several setbacks which the sponsor Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta) said helped to fine tune it.
Speaking to news men after the bill was passed, Okowa said that the new bill would help Nigeria to achieve the Universal Health Coverage and meet  the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target.
He said that if the bill had been passed earlier, there would have been several contentious areas in it, adding that it was better it was  delayed until now.
Okowa said the bill would not only bring remarkable improvement in the health care sector, but it would also regulate the practice in the sector and eliminate quacks while promoting professionalism.
He said that the bill would provide basic health funds needed by Nigeria.
According to him, it will ensure that the Federal Government contributes one per cent of the consolidated revenue fund for the development of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the country.
"We all know that the primary health care is within the purview of the local government councils, the states and the Federal Government actually do give support programmes apart from technical support.
 "This bill also seeks to provide one per cent of the consolidated revenue fund for the purpose of the development of the primary health care.
"The bill is also for the purpose of providing health care insurance to certain class of people who are actually deprived.
"The 50 per cent of the one percent fund that is provided for in clause 11 under a Basic Health Care Fund will be utilised by the NHIS for providing health coverage.
"This will cover pregnant women, children who are under five and the elderly and physically challenged persons."
Okowa said that he was hopeful that the President would use his discretion to increase the fund from the one per cent stipulated in the bill.
According to him, part of the funds will be used to equip the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) as well as train and re-train nurses and midwives.
"PHC is what we need in this country and we are supposed to have at least one primary health care centre in every ward, but we do not have well trained personnel.
``We need to train them and we need to have adequate drugs, equipment and facilities", he said
He said that the bill would allow states to participate in improving primary health centres through a counterpart fund that would enable them to benefit from the consolidated revenue fund.
"Fifty per cent of the fund shall be used for the provision of basic minimum package of health services to citizens in eligible primary or secondary health care facilities through the NHIS.
"Twenty  per cent of the fund shall provide essential vaccines and consumables for eligible primary healthcare facilities.
"Fifteen per cent shall be for the provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for PHC facilities’’, he said.
 According to him, 10 per cent of the fund shall be used for the development of human resources for PHC".
Speaking on the friction existing among professional bodies in the health sector, the lawmaker said that the National Health Bill was tailored to put an end to the endless crisis.
According to him, it will define responsibilities and limitations of each professional body.
``It will also create opportunity for the Nigerian health practitioners to make inputs into the annual budgets of the health sector’’,he said.
The bill also made provision for five per cent of the consolidated revenue fund to be used for emergency medical treatment to be administered by a committee appointed by the National Council on Health.
The Senator said that sanctions for quack or careless health care workers as well as other malpractices in the sector were provided copiously in several clauses of the bill.
Okowa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, expressed confidence that the bill would enjoy speedy assent by the president and hoped that implementation would begin in 2015. (NAN)

COUNCIL NEW FEES EFFECTIVE FROM 6TH OF FEBRUARY,2014.

INDEXING

indexing fee (basic) 6,125

indexing fee (post basic) 10,500

change of training school 35,000

EXAMINATION (BASIC NURSING)

Application Fee 8,750

Paper 1 8,750

paper 2  8,750

Practical 12,250

TOTAL 38,500

EXAMINATION (BASIC MIDWIFERY)

Application fee 8,750

paper 1 8,750

paper 11 8750

paper 111 8750

Practical 12,250

TOTAL 47,250

EXAMINATION (POST BASIC PROGRAM)

Applicatioin fee 8750

paper 1 8750

paper 11 8750

practical 12,250

Total  38,500

REGISTRATION (BASIC)

Application fee 1000

Registration 13,250

Licensing 10,500

Certification 3,250

Badge 4,375

TOTAL 34,375

REGISTRATION (POST BASIC)

Application fee 2,500

Registration 26,250

Licensing 10,500

Certification 5,250

Badge 4,375

TOTAL 48,875

REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN TRAINED NURSES

Application fee (non refundable) 10,500

examination /interview fee (non refundable) 35,000

Total 45,500

CERTIFICATE

Verification (per certificate) 8,750

change of name 8,750

retrieval of returned certificate 13,250

to whom it may concern 8,750

verification by individual/ foreing nursing boards/ enquiries from foreign missions in Nigeria $1175 (or naira equivalent)

OTHER FEES

Renewal of license (for 3 years) 10,500

Reissue of lost document (per document 8,750

PENALTIES

Late registration (per school) 62,000

late registration (per candidate) 13,000

late first licenscing (per year in default from 1991) 5,250

late renewal of licence (per year in default) 5,250

late indexing (per school) 175,000

late entry of examination (per school) 175,000

SALEABLE ITEMS

Nursing badge 4,500

midwifery badge 4,500

psychiatric badge 4,500

publications

a) rules and regulations guiding nursing and midwifery education in Nigeria 2,500

b) clinical protocol for community midwives in Nigeria 2,500

c) harmonised code of ethics for nurses in Nigeria 2,500

d) standards of nursing and midwifery regulations and practise in Nigeria 2,500

e) all handbooks on midwifery regulations and practise in Nigeria 2,500

f) various curricular 2,500

g) all care study booklets 2,500

h) all records of practical insructions and clinical experience 2,500

ACCREDITATION FEES

Application fee for establishment of college of nursing and midwifery 500,000

upgrading of existing school into colleges 200,000

first accreditation visit 900,000

reacrreditation visit 900,000

resource verifation 750,000

approval fee for new colleges/schools 2,625,000

NOTE: ALL IN NAIRA NIGERIA CURRENCY

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