President Taiwo Oyewumi parleys with Minister of Health

President Taiwo Oyewumi parleys with Minister of Health max-h-[350px]

Dateline: Abuja,Nigeria

The NSP President, Taiwo Oyewumi, led a delegation of NSP executives, which also included two Past Presidents of the Society, representatives of Abuja NSP and other stakeholders in the Physiotherapy profession, to pay a courtesy visit to the Honourable Supervising Minister of Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan and the Ministry of Health.

 

The Honourable Minister was on hand to personally receive the NSP entourage, with epoch-making event holding at the conference room of the Ministry. After the recitation of the National Anthem, the Honourable Minister welcomed the NSP delegation especially being the first Professional body to pay him a courtesy visit, since his ascendancy as the Honourable Supervising Minister. On ground, as members of the Minister's team, to receive the NSP delegation were Dr. Patience Osinubi(Director/Head of Department of Hospital services), Dr. Aliyu(Driector/Head of department of Human resources) and Dr Shuaib Belgore(Special technical assistant to the Minister).

 

In his opening remarks, the NSP President appreciated the Minister for accepting the NSP's request to pay him a courtesy visit, sending a representative to the open in ceremony of the just concluded NSP Annual Scientific Conference and also congratulated the Ministry for successfully curbing the Ebola Virus epidemic. He invited the NSP National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Olumide Dada, to introduce the members of NSPdelegation. He presented the challenges facing the profession and the prayers of the NSP, inviting Elder Faniran and Rev'd Jaiyesinmi to speak to some of the challenges in the course of his presentation.

 

Some of the issues highlighted by the President included:

1. The demand for unconditional reversal of non-payment of salaries to NUAHP members currently on industrial action.

2. The prayer that the Minister use his good office to fast track the National Postgraduate Physiotherapy College of Nigeria Executive bill passage.

3. The need to broker peace in the health sector and have a united front.

4. The desire of the NSP to make DPT the minimum entry qualification into the Physiotherapy profession.

5. Establishment of the Directorate of Physiotherapy Services in the Federal Ministry of Health(FMoH).

6. Formulation of National Policy on Rehabilitation and Access to Rehabilitative Services.                   

7. Employment of Physiotherapists at various facilities in the country.

A detailed Memorandum was then presented to Honourable Minister. The President informed the Minister that the NSP is extending the Unity project to the Nigerian health sector.

 

We would recall that in an earlier statement released, the President posited that "We will continue to work conscientiously to present our submissions to the Minister and follow up on the outcomes of the round table long after the meeting is over."

 

The Minister responded by assuring the NSP team that all the points had been noted and his team would take them into considerations. He requested that TEAM work among the healthcare professionals should be paramount, stating that strike actions are not the way forward. He assured the team that discussion is ongoing with JOHESU hinting that a meeting was held a day earlier between the government and JOHESU executive members. According to the Minister, the success in curbing Ebola was a joint effort. He was therefore not pleased with the ongoing strike noting that the Nation requires all hands to be on deck for us stay Ebola free. He pointed out that with festive period fast approaching, there would be influx of people from all over the world, hence the need for all members of the health team to be at their duty posts.

 

The event, which was covered by members of the press corps, came to an end with group photographs with the Honourable Minister and members of his team. The NSP President signed the visitor's register book on behalf of the Society.

 

Contact: Dr Olumide Dada

olumide.dada@nigeriaphysio.org