Medical and health professionals have identified lack of contentment, complexes and unequal remuneration among healthcare professionals in Nigeria as major factors fueling rivalry among health workers and dysfunctionality of healthcare system.
Speaking during a Summit by Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Anambra State Chapter, themed “Professional Synergy in Healthcare Provision; A Panacea For Quality and Stable Health,” the professionals canvassed for synergy and tolerance as panacea to rivalry in healthcare sector.
Delivering his paper, National President of Nigeria Academy of Neurological Surgeons, Prof. Jude-Kennedy Emejuru, regretted that such negative tendencies have contributed to growing mortality rate in the country.
He said, “Why do we have rivalry? The root of it is pecuniary. Besides is the creation of trade unions where people are seeking relevance. For example, the current joke by NLC is becoming an embarrassment.
“More worrisome is the issue of complexes. It takes an inferior mind to feel inferiority complex, and to begin to advocate superiority complex. If you’re comfortable where you are, you don’t need to make too much noise. You see tough protection everywhere.
“Social strife is another factor. You see antagonisms and industrial unrests; petitions and pull him down syndrome. A situation you see government more interested in patients than health workers, it’s an anomaly and anathema to progress and peace in the industrial sector.”
Emejuru proffered job description, massive advocacy among trainees and students, seeking guidance from other climes and legislative discipline to curtail prevalent rascality among professional bodies as solutions to rivalry among health professionals.
“Once we blunder in this profession, lives are lost, quite unlike most other professions. The mortality rate is high, reason we need to be serious with the job God has anointed us to do.
“Above all is contentment which is a godly virtue. If you don’t have it, you can’t be satisfied, regardless of your position. No matter where you are, people will come looking for you, so long as you have skills, service or product you’re marketing,” he added.
Another discussant, Pharmacist Josephat Obasi, emphasized significance of fostering communication, teamwork, and collaboration in improving healthcare and reducing mortality rates associated with poor inter-professional collaboration.
President of the Association, Mr. Manason Rubainu represented by Engr. Sunday Ali, stressed importance of addressing challenges in healthcare system, such as professional participation, practices and ethical conduct for sustainable development of the health sector.
The Commissioner for Housing, Engr. Paul Onyeaka advised professionals to avoid imposing negative status on themselves, but to improve on their image and believe in their distinguishing qualities.
“As a government, we’re committed to ensuring equal treatment to all. There is no segregation because we believe in unity and synergy to ensure speed. Integrity, honestly, competence and capacity are virtues we’re looking for as a government,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of APBN in the State, and State Director, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Joachim Ulasi said the theme was chosen to address professional quackery among health workers.
“The APBN comprises 30 bodies of six sectors. For past years, we’ve been discussing topics around building collapse. This year we decided to delve into health to ensure proper synergy among health workers,” he said.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to individuals who had demonstrated professional excellence, contributed to economic development and engaged in humanitarian efforts.
Among the awardees were traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alex Onyido, first female Professor of Mass Communication in Sub-Saharan Africa, Prof Chinyere Okunna, Chairman of Lovebite Bread, Nwosu Okwudili, former President of Aguata Diocesan Council of Knights, Sir Isaiah Ezeezika, among others.
