The National Conference, in a bid to reduce the current negative impact of
\nmedical tourism on the image and integrity of Nigeria and her healthcare
\nsystem, has set strict procedures that must be observed by public officers
\nseeking medical treatment outside Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The Conference on Wednesday said seeking medical treatment abroad has
\nresulted in immense capital flight and drain on Nigeria\u2019s economy
\nresulting from medical tourism; it cited abuse of existing processes for
\nscreening of referrals for foreign medical treatment as one of the
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
Consequently, it resolved that henceforth, there should be restriction of
\ngovernment sponsorship of public officers for foreign medical care; and
\nthat unless for exceptional cases that require referral abroad, all public
\nofficers should mandatorily utilize local health facilities.<\/p>\n
These exceptional cases, it said, must be screened by a medical board made
\nup of appropriate medical and healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n
In addition, the recommendations of the board should be subject to the
\napproval of the Minister of Health who is the chief medical adviser to the
\nFederal Government; except where such exceptional cases are serious
\nemergencies, in which instant approval may be given.<\/p>\n
Conference however expressed the need for improvement in the quality of
\nhealthcare services in Nigeria; a deliberate effort to refocus the
\nattitude of healthcare workers to patients in Nigeria; and improved
\npolitical commitment to health by political office holders.<\/p>\n
These resolutions were arrived at after heated debates on the report of
\nthe Committee on the Social Sector presented by the Committee Chairman,
\nIyom Josephine Anenih, supported by the deputy chairman, Professor
\nRuqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, the former Minister of Education.<\/p>\n
It was also resolved that free-healthcare be established for children aged
\n0-5 years; senior citizens from the age of 65 years; persons living with
\ndisability or the physically challenged persons; free maternal services
\nand free school health programmes.<\/p>\n
After another round of heated debate by the delegates, Conference resolved
\nthat government and owners of mission\/private schools should dialogue to
\nfacilitate the handover of all mission and private schools to their
\noriginal owners.<\/p>\n
In returning the schools, it was agreed that owners must ensure that they
\nare affordable and able to serve wider variety of the public as it were in
\nthe original concept of the mission schools.<\/p>\n
It recommended that there should be regulation of fees charged by the
\nschools; the schools should provide assistance to the local community
\nthrough scholarships and other services; and that children from other
\ndenominations should not be marginalized in the admission process.<\/p>\n
Conference agreed that staff of such schools should have the option of
\nremaining with the institution or being absorbed into government service
\nin the case of the return of the mission and private schools to their
\noriginal owners.<\/p>\n
Still on schools, it was unanimously decided that government should
\nconvert all Almajiri schools to normal schools and integrate Quranic
\neducation curriculum to absorb the millions of out of school children.<\/p>\n
Government was also asked to provide free basic education with free
\nuniforms, books and midday meals for all children from primary one to
\njunior secondary three.<\/p>\n
It was also resolved that government should build additional Almajiri
\nSchools to bring them up to 400 as originally planned while a 10 year plan
\nof sustained implementation should be put in place with a view to
\nproviding access to all children.<\/p>\n
On pension, Conference said the 2004 Pension Act should be amended so that
\npayment of pension to beneficiaries would continue throughout their
\nlifetime instead of the current practice where payment is only made to
\npeople between 15 and 18 years post-retirement.<\/p>\n
Delegates agreed on the urgent need to amend the 2004 Pension Act to
\ninclude a provision to hold the pension commission responsible and also
\nprescribe penalties.<\/p>\n
It was accepted that salary reviews should be reflected in calculating
\nbenefits across the board, particularly in reference to long-time
\nretirees; salary increases should automatically affect retirees in both
\nthe old and new pension systems.<\/p>\n
To ensure full coverage of citizens, Conference said pension fund
\nadministrators and the national pension commission should be obliged to
\nbegin a comprehensive programme of registering the informal sector workers
\nunder the 2004 Pensions Act.<\/p>\n
Conference also unanimously decided that\u00a0 a social security policy be put
\nin practice to cater for the well being of the elderly in addition to the
\npension policy.<\/p>\n
Proceedings at the Conference however came to a halt for about 15 minutes
\nas female delegates and some male delegates took the floor to protest
\nattempts by other delegates to vote against the application of the
\naffirmative action demanding that 35% of elective offices at all levels be
\ngiven reserved for women.<\/p>\n
As soon as delegates voted to reduce the percentage from 35% to 30%, all
\nthe women in the hall including some men stood up, started singing and
\nthreatened a walk-out if the decision was not reversed.<\/p>\n
When the hall was eventually called to order, some of the male delegates
\nincluding former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar
\nNa\u2019Abba, spoke in favour of 35%. They stated that the matter was already
\nan existing government policy.<\/p>\n
At this point, it was unanimously decided that since the practice was
\nalready in existence and on-going, it should be allowed to remain.
\nInstantly, some female delegates started asking for increase to 40%.<\/p>\n
Conference also decided that the Federal Government should put into
\neffective use, the National Policy on Women adopted in 2004 which was
\nreplaced with the National Gender Policy in 2006.<\/p>\n
Government was also asked to draft for passage and implementation, a Bill
\non the Abolition of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in Nigeria
\nto address the issue of discrimination and violence against women and
\nmaltreatment of widows<\/p>\n
Delegates adopted a recommendation that government should legislate to
\nprohibit installation of telecommunication mast in residential
\nneighbourhoods and to prohibit other practices that negatively impact on
\nhealth including female genital mutilation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Conference, in a bid to reduce the current negative impact of medical tourism on the image and integrity of Nigeria and her healthcare system, has set strict procedures…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25711,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n