NBS vs. The Nigerian Health workers: Bribe for service allegations and what NMA can do
By A.N. Ebuta
“Sunshine allies applaud the judge in good times, but curse the verdict when fortune fades.”
In the past, near and far off, we or some of ‘we’ have conveniently quoted the NBS and other reference documents to strengthen our submissions or arguments, both privately and publicly. We gleefully celebrated their unquestionable brilliance at such moments, defecting to their sidelines un-solicited.
At such moments, we may have felt comforted by the dictums of proper document referencing or acknowledgement of source of information, a key guiding principle in research based literary expositories.
Allow me to hint at this point that I will deliberately refrain from discussing the NBS documents or its conclusion directly. As it is quickly emerging that, though the NBS alluded to the points raised, rouge journalism and pedestrian reporting may be the real culprit here.
However, what is clear is that a majority of brethrens are upbeat and have shared their distaste and absolute disagreement with the report or its interpretation. But one thing is certain, it cast in bad light a noble profession known principally for its humanitarianism.
While we can continue to engage in banters best equated to blank shots, and placebo actions, a potent opportunity pleads to be embraced.
The forte is principally but not exclusively the prerogative of the NMA. However, if there is a defence to be had, then the bucks’ first stop will be on the desk of the newly elected president of the NMA and his team. This is necessary as we need to place a well documented and clearly communicated alternative perspective or “truth” that will in future dissuade literary adventurist from quoting this poorly presented but widely disseminated misrepresentation of facts.
NMA may already be making these moves, if this is true, then kudos. If not, it should be considered.
My humble proposition is that the NMA should commission a study that incorporates but is not necessarily limited to the same methodology deployed by NBS et al in arriving at their conclusions as scientists and researchers, drawing from the instructive nature of the hierarchy of evidence pyramid.
Further discussions of this matter, laced with rhetorics and air pumps with clenched fists, will amount to attempting to use water flow from a kitchen tap to generate hydroelectric power. Essentially, an exercise in futility, except such expressions, create an opportunity to vent, some of our frustrations with the dysfunctions we encounter every day. Potentially psychological relieving.
NMA research committee chairman needs to do the needful. While we should turn our attention to more pressing issues that exposes us and ours to daily knocks and bumps unmitigated.
Enough said already.
Disclaimer: Apologies offered if anyone sensibilities are inadvertently offended. That is not the intention of this discourse
● Ebuta, a student in “the school of strategy” sent this via WhatsApp from Abuja.
