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Japa: Council, nurses begin legal battle over new certification guidelines

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Some Nurses in the country have sued the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and the Minister of Health among others over the new certificate verification guidelines.

The NMCN had on February 7, 2024, issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.

The council stated, among others, that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practising licence.

The new guidelines came into force on March 1, 2024.

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But nurses and midwives, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, expressed concern that the NMCN’s revised guidelines for certificate verification were targeted at preventing them from going abroad in search of greener pastures.

They are particularly uncomfortable with the provision in the guidelines that a nurse seeking NMCN certification must have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience.

They are also opposed to the requirement that a nurse applying for NMCN’s certification must obtain a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of their place of work and the last training institution attended while the processing of application shall take a minimum of six months.

As a result of this, nurses in Abuja and Lagos protested to demand the reversal of the new guidelines.

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Pushing their demands forward, some dissatisfied nurses on behalf of their colleagues dragged the Registrar, NMCN; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Federal Ministry of Health; and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

The complainants in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024, are Desmond Aigbe; Kelvin Ossai; Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro; Tamunoibi Berry; Osemwengie Osagie; Abiola Olaniyan; Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse.

They are urging the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from implementing the NMCN circular pending the determination of the suit.

The nurses also urged the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.

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They want “an interlocutory order suspending the commencement of the 2nd defendant’s Revised Guidelines for Verification of Certificate(S) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Of Nigeria, earlier proposed to take effect from the 7th of March, 2024 as indicated on the 2nd defendant’s circular dated 7th February, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the claimants/applicants Originating Summons in this suit.”

They also want “an interlocutory order restraining the defendants, their partners, parastatals, subjects, counterparts and agents from taking any further step that may hinder, restrict, or infringe on the constitutional rights and freedom of nurses and midwives in Nigeria from emigrating to the country to seek better career opportunities and training abroad.”

At the proceedings on Wednesday, counsel for the complaints, Ode Evans, told the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filled by the first and second defendants.

He pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to reply to their applications.

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Evans said, “I confirmed the receipt of the application from the first and second defendants this morning. We shall be asking for a date to enable us to file our responses.”

Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae adjourned the matter till May 20 for hearing.

She ordered that the hearing notice be served on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation who had no legal representation in court.

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Health

READ about indicators that you maybe having liver related problems

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The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen.

It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.

If there are symptoms of liver disease, they may include:

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*Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice. …

*Belly pain and swelling.

*Swelling in the legs and ankles.

*Itchy skin.

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*Dark urine.

*Pale stool.

*Constant tiredness.

*Nausea or vomiting.

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If you’re experiencing these symptoms please see your doctor.

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Benue records 20 suspected cases of Mpox, four confirmed

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Benue state government said it has recorded 20 suspected cases of Mpox with four of the cases confirmed.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr Asema Msuega, who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Makurdi, said three of the cases have been treated and discharged while the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday, September 6, 2024.

He said “For this year up-to-date, we have 20 suspected cases of Mpox and four confirmed cases in Benue State.

“Initially, we have three confirmed cases that were treated and discharged from isolation center, the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday from the reference laboratory.”

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According to him, the fourth patient who is still in isolation is receiving treatment and responding well.

He said the confirmed cases are from two local government areas of the state including Makurdi and Gwer West adding “But for the suspected cases, they cut across five local government areas of the state; Ushongo, Kastina-Ala, Gboko, Makurdi and Gwer West.

“The most recent is from Gwer East which sample we have sent to the laboratory and awaiting result before the end of this week.”

Msuega who stated that many of the suspected cases have also come out of isolation, explained that “it’s not every case that we take to hospital for isolation, we advised some to self isolate at home just like we were doing during the outbreak of COVID-19.”

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He said the patients are being treated at the isolation center of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) the government is carrying out massive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease and to imbibe basic prevention and control measures including washing of hands, avoiding unnecessary contacts with people, especially suspected person.

While harping on early detection and reporting, Msuega urged the Benue public to report suspected cases to appropriate authorities especially the nearest health centres, be it primary, secondary or tertiary health centres.

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Resident doctors end warning strike

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Striking resident doctors yesterday ended their seven-day industrial action.

The strike was meant to persuade the government and security agencies to rescue one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola-Olawale, who has been in her abductors’ den since December 27, last year.

The warning strike, which began on August 26, faced strong opposition from the Federal Government, which threatened to enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against their doctors.

The government expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to embark on the strike, claiming that despite being informed of the various steps it was taking to address the situation, the union still went on strike.

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Despite this threat, the doctors saw the strike to its end.

Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) President Dele Abdullahi said the association would reassess the Federal Government’s actions over the next three weeks to ensure meaningful progress.

He said: “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks. “

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