Our time together….
Dear Member,
As choristers, we have been rehearsing hard for our upcoming Christmas carol service. As Storm Daragh lashed the UK mainland this weekend, I was reminded of one our songs, ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ penned by Christina Rosetti and set to music by Harold Darke. The poem describes ‘moaning’ frosty winds, the earth as hard as iron,’ and ‘water like a stone! The weather is wet, windy, freezing and ugly if you have been out and about this weekend. But this is a beautiful and evocative piece of choral music. It is definitely one of my favourites.
Despite the cold, your executive committee has been working hard on your behalf. MANSAG has increased the number of its regional teams to ten with the establishment of MANSAG North East, MANSAG Scotland and MANSAG Wales. I thank Dr Eleazu, Mr. Salami, and Dr Umeadi for their passion for setting up these regional chapters. We now have chapters in all areas of the UK except Northern Ireland. I look forward to setting up a Chapter for our members there in the very near future.
Dr. Adamu-Biu the Resident Doctors Representative Executive Committee Member has set up a database of doctors, Hospital Trusts or Regional Organisations that provide opportunities for clinical attachment for our members. I am thrilled to share that one of our consultant members supported a member with supervision for her first clinical attachment in the UK. This member had struggled to find a role for several months and MANSAG found one within 48 hours of asking. Amazing! Thank you so much to members who volunteered to provide support. If you can be a sponsor or supervisor for our members, please contact Residentsrep@mansag.org with your details of how you can help.
Professor Okike and the Research Committee held a great workshop on how to critically appraise a research publication during the annual conference in Manchester. The committee has been hard at work developing resources for members who wish to engage in research activities. One of their key responsibilities is to deepen our links with The Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford and the National Institute for Health Research. MANSAG participated at a Round Table Multi Professional Healthcare Forum organised by the Centre for Research Equity that took place recently at the House of Commons. You can read the full report here https://researchequity.phc.ox.ac.uk/files/downloads/full-report-parliamentary-multiprofessional-healthcare-forum-28-oct-2024.pdf
The consultation on the government’s NHS 10-year plan has now finished. I am delighted that we sent in a detailed submission on how NHS can work with organisations like MANSAG to enable it to achieve its ambition to improve healthcare needs of the wider population particularly with respect to providing culturally sensitive and tailored strategies to healthcare provision. I’m very grateful to Mr Alalade our able Secretary of the National Executive Committee for coordinating the organisation’s contribution to this important consultation.
Change NHS: help build a health service fit for the future – GOV.UK
In my last letter, I reminded members that President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to support our beloved nation. Healthcare professionals like us with our expertise are no exception. MANSAG together with The Registrar/CEO of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Dr Kyari organised a very productive meeting with five UK Medical Royal Colleges that discussed how they can collaborate with their sister faculties in the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria to support specialist training. In the first wave of this initiative are Royal Colleges of Emergency Medicine, General Practitioners, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paediatrics and Child Health and Physicians. If you are member of any of these Colleges please let Mr Oboh , the Chair of Diaspora Engagement Committee of your interest at Diasporaengagement@mansag.org
As an executive committee, we are exploring options of how to make it easier to register your membership, update your membership, participate in MANSAG activities, and contribute to the work of MANSAG. Dr Nnaji , the Publicity and Membership Secretary is leading a group that is reviewing our publicity strategy whilst Dr Fapohunda (Treasurer) and Dr Ladele (Financial Secretary) are focused on keeping us on a sustainable financial footing. Ms Ogunremi has re-energised the voice of Allied Healthcare Professionals and is currently surveying allied health professionals on their relationship with MANSAG. Several members have contacted Dr Ilozue and the (renamed) welfare and professional advice committee led by Dr Agbo for support with aspects of their professional and personal lives. I will report on their work in future newsletters. I am also pleased to announce that a Secretariat Assistant will soon join us to support you and the work of the organisation. Once induction is complete, the Secretary will introduce the postholder to members directly.
As you can see it has been a busy few weeks for your new national executive committee but we know that more needs to be done. We continue to ask for your support in all we do. Please do let us know if there is anything we can do to make it easier for you to engage with MANSAG. Do share your comments with us at info@mansag.org
Dates for your diary
Please note these dates for your diary:
- Saturday 3 May 2025: MANSAG Education and Research Spring Conference
- Theme Leadership in Education and Research
- Venue: Leeds
And Finally
As we begin our frantic preparations for the festive season, please endeavour to attend any one of the Regional Chapter’s end of year events if you can. As activities gets busier, do take care of yourself and look out for each other. This is the season of goodwill, for re-connecting and for rejuvenation. It is also the time to give and receive from families and loved ones.
For us in MANSAG we should also think of what we can give and receive. The poem ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ comes to mind.
‘What can I give Him?
Yet What I can,
I give Him.
Give my heart……’
Please give of your heart and your all in everything you do!
On behalf of your National Executive Committee, I wish you and your loved ones a glorious festive season and a very happy new 2025.
Until next time, remain blessed.
Jide,
Dr. Jide Menakaya
President, MANSAG
