NMA-Kwara demands fair pay for healthcare workers amid rising monkeypox cases

By SakaLaaro, Ilorin

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has expressed serious concerns about the financial inequalities faced by healthcare workers in Nigeria, even within the same institutions.

During a news conference in Ilorin on Monday, Chairman of NMA-Kwara, Prof. AbdulrahmanAfolabi, highlighted these disparities as part of the activities for the 2024 Physician’s Week, themed “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System.” The subtheme focused on “Mitigating the Impact of Infectious Diseases: Addressing the Monkeypox Outbreak and Beyond.”

Afolabi noted that remuneration structures vary significantly based on location, institution, and job category, leading to a fragmented and unsustainable payment system.

He stated, “Inconsistency in salaries is evident not only across the country but even within similar healthcare or academic institutions. These disparities, most especially in academia, discourage young and talented healthcare professionals from entering or staying in the workforce, ultimately exacerbating the burden on those who remain.”

He urged all levels of government to implement a uniform salary structure, specifically the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), to retain skilled healthcare workers.

On the issue of Monkeypox, Afolabi reported that the African Union has declared it a public health emergency, with Nigeria currently documenting about 42 cases across 16 states. He described Monkeypox as a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, characterised by symptoms similar to Smallpox.

The Physician’s Week will address critical topics related to Monkeypox, including its types, modes of transmission, symptoms, necessary investigations, and monitoring strategies.