Borno doctors issue 21-day ultimatum to govt over CONMESS
MAIDUGURI—THE Association of Borno State Doctors, ABSB, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Governor Kashim Shettima to implement the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, and pay four years’ arrears or face industrial action.
Issuing the ultimatum, yesterday, at a briefing in Maiduguri, Chairman of the association, Dr. Bukar Abbagana, who said the government had failed to implement the new structure since 2014, said when doctors across the country were on strike for non-implementation of CONMESS, no doctor in Borno went on strike.
doctors
He said the ultimatum, which commenced on January 8, will lapse on February 5
We’re not neglecting doctors— Govt reacts
Reacting to the ultimatum, Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the state government is ready to pay the outstanding allowance and could have done so last year but for the ongoing verification.
Speaking to newsmen during a briefing at Eye Clinic Conference Hall, Hospital Management Board, Maiduguri, Mshelia added that the resident doctors have never been denied their salaries or allowances due to the significance of their job.
He said Governor Shettima has held series of meetings with the executive members of the association.
AS Nigeria joined other countries recently to mark the 2017 World Egg Day, the Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, has disclosed that eggs could prevent breast cancer among women.
This was stated by the National President, PAN, Mr. Onallo Akpa, while giving his address of welcome at a world press conference as part of activities to mark the day with theme, ‘An Egg A Day for The Nigerian Child, Crack an Egg and Help Crack World Hunger’, where he said the association has made impact in growing the economy by contributing 25 per cent to the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product, AGDP, of the economy.
According to Akpa, egg plays a vital role in feeding people around the world as it has excellent, affordable source of high protein with the potential to feed the world, as it contains selenium, Vitamin A and E, Folate, Riboflavin, Choline and Lutein.
Eggs
He said: “There is so much to celebrate as eggs have the potential to feed the world with the greatest secret as ‘nature’s vitamins pills’. Scientific reports confirm that among protein foods, egg contains the richest mix of essential amino acids crucial for children, adolescents and young adults for proper growth. Egg prevents ageing of the skin and helps in increasing the red blood cell count in infants as well as in their brain development.
Potential on egg production
”Eggs may prevent breast cancer, as women who consume at least six eggs per week reduce their risk of breast cancer by 44 per cent according to scientific study.”
He also stated that there was enormous revenue generation potential on egg production capable of boost the economy and wealth creation if there will be commitment to it by the government and the people, which priority should be given to the development of the industry, taking advantage of the Federal government’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and others.
“The economy of the egg in Nigeria is enormous as an egg a day for 50 per cent of the Nigerian population will produce a daily economic value of N1.7 billion.
“A deliberate policy of an egg a day will create great impact assessment of school enrichment, cognitive development and mental development”, he added.
Also speaking, a Nutritionist from Maitama District Hospital, Dr. Sarah Abagai, said that inclusion of egg in a daily meal plan can go a long way to solving the malnutrition problems in Nigeria, which she revealed that over 11 million children suffer stunted growth in Nigeria, due to lack of adequate nutrition.
Abagai further stated that one out of three children in the country was malnourished, which could be traced to poor nutrition by pregnant women before delivery and lactation women.
“Over 11 million Nigerian children are stunted in growth, while one out of every three children are malnourished, due to lack of adequate nutrition. We support the use of egg as bridge because it contains a lot of vitamins and minerals”, she said.
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