Nigerian Medical Association welcomes Pfizer vaccine trial In Nigeria

The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says it welcomes the use of the Pfizer vaccine on Nigerians.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Innocent Ujah, stated this at a press briefing on the outcomes of association’s National Executive Council Meeting, in Abuja.

He said that the vaccine was a welcome development.

“We welcome the Pfizer research finding. It is very important that the vaccine trial came out with the result of 94.5%  efficacy and safe for use. However, for it to be used in Nigeria, it must undergo another further clinical trial because our biology is different, our environment is different, our genetics are different.

“Therefore it must necessarily be subjected to another clinical trial on Nigerians so that we can appropriately document its efficacy and safety on Nigerians. It doesn’t matter if it is 100% efficacious in the US or in Europe.

But we must of necessity have to use it on Nigerians. So that we can document its efficacy and safety on Nigerians,“Prof Ujah said.

The President also urged Nigerians to continue to maintain COVID-19 protocols to avoid an escalation of the cases. He said that part of the COVID funds should be allocated to research.

“I believe that the National Orientation Agency should do more to educate and inform the public about compliance, using the various languages even town criers. Because it is not everybody that understands the English we speak,” NMA president said.

He noted that commencement of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the flagrant disregard for the non-pharmaceutical prevention protocols and waning efforts at containment of the scourge; while further noting the current concerns for vaccine access internationally whereas such serious conversations have yet to be intensified in Nigeria.

The NMA also bemoans the incessant spate of emigration of highly trained Nigerian Doctors and other health care professionals to greener pastures (brain drain) at a time when their services are critically needed in Nigeria; observing further that efforts at engaging these nationals have not yielded expected results.

“It Is deeply worrisome that some Nigerians in privileged positions still embark on foreign medical treatments for conditions that could be easily managed in the country thereby reducing the opportunities for revamping the nation’s health sector and improving service delivery through their patronage of local health facilities,” He noted.

The President also said that the National Executive Council meeting which held in Awka, Anambra State between 8th and 12th December 2020, is deeply worried over the worsening state of insecurity manifested by insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping and other forms of armed attacks in the country while regretting that medical and health workers who enjoy protection in other climes have increasingly become targets in Nigeria.

The meeting also made the following resolutions;

• Serious efforts to prioritize health including supplementary appropriation/ budgetary provision should be initiated by the government at all levels and the private sector coalitions to ensure the procurement and availability of consumables for effective response in the containment of COVID-19, especially with the upsurge of the infection. We also wish to advise the government to procure the vaccines that have been reported to be effective for a further research study on Nigerians to confirm their efficacy and safety for the Nigerian populace.
• A passionate appeal to all Nigerians to take the COVID-19 prevention advisories very seriously in order to interrupt the transmission reduce ill-health and deaths from the dreaded disease. The strict adherence to the NCDC Protocol of use of face mask, regular handwashing and use of sanitizers and social as well as Physical distancing is very strongly advocated. Non-essential travels should not be embarked upon especially during this yuletide season and beyond.
• More deliberate and strategic efforts must be made by governments to ensure the return home of the Nigerian doctors and other health professionals in diaspora to contribute their quota to the improvement of health care delivery services as well as national growth and development.
• Privileged Nigerians should demonstrate open confidence in the nation’s health care delivery system as well as patronising the services, as we call for the establishment of the National Health Bank in order to fast-track the infrastructure, procurement of the state-of-the- equipment which helps to provide world-class health care for Nigerians in order to reverse Medical tourism.
• Ratification of the report of the CTC; recognition and admittance of the newly elected State Officers’ Committee led by Dr J.O.T Onyia and warned that such show of shame exhibited during the botched elections should never be repeated in the future. In the same, the disciplinary Committee of the Association will commence work to hear all cases referred to it. Anyone one found guilty in the August 2020 election crisis will be punished in accordance with the provision of our Constitution.
• Diligently prosecute the appeal case which NMA and co-respondents instituted and directs that the payment of the Building Levy remains a requisite for the renewal of the 2021 annual practising licence.
• Educate and mobilize extensively all members and other stakeholders to support and actualize the amendment of the MDPACT.
• Call upon His Excellency President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, political leaders, strategic stakeholders in the nation’s financial sector and the entire citizens to prevail upon the Central Bank of Nigeria to soften and modify the conditionalities for accessing the Health Intervention Loan especially given the current state of the nation’s health sector as exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Adoption of the MWAN’s “Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health” (MIMCH) advocacy document and strategizing for its implementation nation-wide.
• Continue to strategically engage appropriate quarters in order to achieve the implementation of the extension of the retirement age of medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria to 65 years; special pension benefits as contained in Circular I of 1991; restoration of the Medical Salary System Scale (MSSS); Implementation of the CONMESS for Medically qualified Lecturers and its universal applicability for doctors in the employment of States and Local Government Councils.
• Call on the Federal Government to commence negotiations with NMA on the 2019 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).
• Intensify the call on the Federal Government and its security agencies to assess and evaluate the current strategies on the security situation and commit to more effective reforms in order to secure Nigerians wherever they are in the country

The theme of the meeting was “Medical Doctors, Politics and Leadership in the Society” and the Subtheme, “Managing Mental Health in a COVID-19 Depressed Economy. ’’

Suzan O