NMA 2021 Conference: “Stop condemning other Medical Doctors”, Prof Ikechebelu appeals to NMA members

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and Covenant Oluchi Ikedinobi

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Joseph Ikechebelu has appealed to members of the Anambra state Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA to stop condemning their colleagues no matter the circumstances.

Prof Ikechebelu who is a Foundation Fellow, Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria
spoke at the 2021 edition of the Nigeria Medical Association annual General Meeting / Scientific Conference, themed: “Tissues and Organ Donation: Scope, Prospect and Ethical Challenges,” held Thursday at Senator Uche Ekwunife event center Awka .

” As much as a possible, let us stop letting down our colleagues when a patient is referred by them late, because you don’t know why. Stop condemning your colleagues to shine after hearing from patients or relatives of patients without hearing from your colleagues…..”.

Prof Ikechebelu who is the Chief Promoter of Life International Hospital Awka, charged doctors to stop holding on to patients when they have done their best to avoid complications, hence they should always refer immediately.
He cautioned against delayed referral even as he reiterated on the need for indemnity in practice.

Prof Ikechebelu, an Expert in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Minimal Access Surgery (Gynae Endoscopy) and Human Reproduction (In-Vitro fertilization) further advocated for NMA to enshrine sustainable practical practice registration and indemnity for members to be able to stand by each other in terms of need and crisis particularly distractive litigations. He encouraged that litigations should be resolved through advocacy to avoid escalating to other ugly discoveries and multiplying.

While advocating against public medical litigation panel, Prof Ikechebelu, who is also the Chairman and Chief Examiner , Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West African College of Surgeons advised medical doctors to stay within error margin in practice and involve colleagues when necessary. He insisted that whenever there is emergency,doctors should save life and talk about bills later but if an elective case, the bills should be decided on before attention.

Earlier in his speech entitled” What to do when threatened or already sued”, Prof Ikechebelu warned doctors not to ignore any threat or suit as it’s to their own peril to ignore.

He encouraged the doctors involved to open dialogue or advocacy with involved patient, client or party as well as notify your lawyer for Professional advice and particularly use NMA legal unit if the person has no personal or facility legal personnel. He asked them to notify NMA in any suit and seek counsel on existing NMA deliberations and guidelines.

He asked them to treat every patient, case or client as a potential litigation waiting to happen by having an alert antenna or index of suspicion, hence the need to have accurate and timely documentations.

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Abia State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Chimezie Okwuonu who delivered a keynote paper at the event said that hospitals in Nigeria have amassed seventy percent success in kidney transplant in recent times.

Dr Okwuonu further said that the country has achieved success in the area of kidney
donation and that a handful of hospitals in the country presently
carry out kidney transplantation against what is obtainable in the
past.

Dr. Okwuonu disclosed that the country has recorded over 70 Percent one year survival in both patient and Organ kidney transplantation but decried that many Nigerians die because of failure to afford transplantation. “A lot of patients are too poor to afford kidney transplant as it takes an average of N7-10 million to get a transplant done and as a result, a lot of patients lose their lives.”

He regretted latest trend where Nigerian youths donate their organs for quick financial return blaming such evil attitude on the poor economic situation of the country. “A lot of young Nigerians are coming up to donate to be paid financial remunerations. This financial remuneration is unethical and what we preached here today is altruistic donation. “

He commended Lagos state for passing a bill for extraction of organs from deceased persons and persons on the verge of death, noting that such bill would cease to encourage youths from indulging in organs sells. He also said the bill is timely and would make donor organs available for Nigerians with critical cases.

Also speaking, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, said his
administration is ready to make Anambra a medical tourist state where people can treat challenging  health issues such as cancer and surgeries.

Obiano who spoke through the commissioner for health, Dr. Vincent Okpala debunked claims by a certain group that health centers in the state are poorly equipped, noting that  about 330 health centres in the state has keyed into the state’s basic healthcare provision fund.

He explained that the state government created a system where every political ward learns to take ownership of public health centre in their area and that, gone are the days when people think money for healthcare is being misappropriated by government.

“The fund goes straight to the community wards and to groups known as ward development being headed by a member of that ward.  Their job is every cycle of three months, they go back to the work plan of the things they need to face in their centres and when money trickles in, they use it to solve the problem.”

In his remarks, Dr. Emma C. Emelumadu, said Nigeria seriously lags behind on the issues of Tissues and Organ Donation which he said forms the important part of success in medicine to the extension of human life.

Emelumadu who decried fate of medical practitioners in the COVID-19 plagued world, said the event would be a wakeup call for improved medical endeavour, while he also called for a critical review for the safety of practitioners in the country.

Earlier in his address, Anambra and Southeast NMA Chairman, Dr. Jide
Onyekwelu, described the annual general meeting as an avenue to
brainstorm on new developments in healthcare delivery and dovetail
discussions to bear on the health of the people.

 Dr. Onyekwelu who described the meeting as avenue to celebrate
individuals that have excelled in medical practice, harped on the need of the state branch to erect befitting secretariat. He also beckoned on healthcare partners to assist the chapter in achieving her
objective in the state through financial donations and the likes.

The local organizing committee chairperson, Anambra state, Dr. Jane Ezeonu, while commending the success of the event, said it marked the beginning of the association’s 2-days AGM/Sc  event which will be laced with opening ceremony, scientific sessions and panel discussions.

Present at the event was the former Commissioner for health Anambra State , Dr Joe Akabuike , now the Medical Director Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Awka, in his statement implored the need of establishing specialists of various diagnoses as it will aid the efficient running of medical tourist center in the Anambra state.

A member of NMA Anambra state Chapter and a medical consultant, Dr Sir Chinedu Ilokanuno said the theme of the conference was apt and described the the 2021 annual conference of NMA as a huge success.