(SINL NIGERIA) The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has dissociated itself from a faction of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE).
Specifically, the ministry described as fake a video of a meeting with the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, as proof of endorsement by the Ministry.
A statement on Wednesday by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director/Head, Information & Public Relations emphasized categorically that the purported video is not true.
“The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to state categorically that this is not correct”.
According to the statement, Nurses Across Borders (NAB), an NGO group of nurses in diaspora who has been partnering with the Diaspora Unit of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare reached out to the Ministry, following the development of Migration policy and implementation plan.
“They brought some foreign partners to showcase how they plan to assist in managing migration for Nigerian healthcare workers as done in some countries in the Middle East and Philippines.
“In the course of presentation to the Minister of State for Health, Nurses across Borders representatives came with some Nigerians in diaspora including some individuals who introduced themselves as representing NIDO Europe, expressing interest to partner with NAB in developing a mechanism for ethical migration of Nigerian Health workers”.
It continued: “To this end, the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare wishes to re-affirm that it will consider working with reputable and experienced private organizations to develop a framework that will ensure ethical migration of Nigerian Health workers for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and the migrating health workers.
“Furthermore, the Ministry is guided by the core value of working for the best interest of Nigerian health workers including those in diaspora without interfering with internal affairs of the Organizations such health workers might belong.
“We will keep upholding plans and strategy to improve the Nigerian health sector by harnessing all material and human resources including those provided by Nigerians in Diaspora”.
The ministry however reiterated that the press release is for information purposes and to correct any misrepresentation being circulated in the media.
