Dear Mansagian,
‘Now that the Spring Conference has concluded we now have to start the heavy lifting.’ So wrote the Chair of the MANSAG Diaspora Engagement Committee to his committee colleagues. I must say I share his sentiment that collectively the MANSAG community is doing a lot of work behind scenes to progress on our purpose for our members this year.
For colleagues with children in education, I can imagine the hard yards being put in by parents, teachers and carers to prepare the nursery school children transitioning to primary school, primary school pupils moving on to secondary school and those in Secondary School or College taking their GCSE or A levels respectively. A lot of heavy lifting has been and is being done to support our children by members who are parents and carers. I wish everyone engaged in these endeavours every success and look forward to hearing about your celebrations later in the summer.
MANSAG leadership teams are also working extremely hard on your behalf. You will be pleased to know that Dr Iyke Okongwu’s motion crafted with support from MANSAG to counter the Resident Doctors Motion to restrict IMGs from specialty training will be debated at this year’s BMA Annual Representative Meeting. Please do link up with Dr Fatima Adamu- Biu at Residentsrep@mansag.org for more information. We will have another online session with colleagues to discuss the motion before the ARM. Watch out for our social media handles for how you can participate.
Our regional chapters are at the heart of what we do. It was inspiring to see the membership engagement and participation at a recent chapter event exploring wellbeing organised by East of England Chapter. The contribution by a member of the MANSAG southwest region at the Spring symposium was one of the highlights of the conference. Ms. Bola Odufuwa-Bolger the chair of London MANSAG has initiated links with a national charity, St John of God so that public health experts and mental health professionals within our midst can support and advocate for the most vulnerable immigrants in our communities. I am excited by these developments by our chapters. Dr. Fapohunda our national treasurer will be supporting and facilitating these initiatives on behalf of the executive committee.
Dr. Alalade our secretary has just refreshed and updated our offer to members through their chapters. This has been approved by the executive team and the MANSAG council. Our chapters will be supported to have their own bank accounts, run quarterly events, and establish a committee leadership structure. Each chapter will also have a liaison executive committee member to ensure their needs are represented at the highest decision-making body within MANSAG. These measures will, I am sure, lead to vibrant regional and inclusive community of members and their families. If you need any more information on this or better still, suggest how you can contribute, please email secretary@mansag.org.
The Welfare Committee has been hard at work supporting our members. Thank you to members that have boosted their numbers and increased collective efforts to look after our members. We are also slowly building our regional support. MANSAG receives at least one enquiry a week from distressed members. On reviewing these requests, Dr Oge Ilozue our welfare secretary, believes we need to develop and strengthen our early warning signs interventions for our members to reduce risk of issues getting out of hand. This will be an area of focus in our discussions with the GMC.
For many colleagues in specialty training, the ARCP season is upon us. It was such a delight to learn that Dr. Dyanne Imo-Iwoke the winner of this year’s MANSAG Travel Grant Award organised a Masterclass for paediatric trainees on how to complete a great portfolio. I know the session went very well so we need to replicate her example in other specialties. If you are a trainee in other specialties, interested in medical education or want to share your knowledge of what works, please reach out to Miss Fatima Adamu-Biu, the interim chair of MANSAG education committee at education@mansag.org so we can run similar specialty programs to benefit our members. It will be great for your portfolio!
Our diaspora engagement work with Nigerian Healthcare system on SCALE and STAR* programs continue to progress at pace. We have held very productive meetings and visited the executive leads at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Geriatrics), University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre Abuja (Emergency Care) We have also engaged with the Federal Ministry of Health Sector Wide Approach initiatives to reduce Maternal and Neonatal mortality (MAMII). I’m grateful to MANSAG members, Dr Tunde Asaolu & Dr Chidi Uba (Emergency Medicine) Professor Ngozi Edi-Osagie (Neonatology) Mr Sam Agwu (Obstetrics), Dr Amina Abba (Medicine) and Dr Micheal Idoye (Geriatrics)for their interest and commitment to these initiatives. Any member moved to contribute to these initiatives should email diasporaengagement@mansag.org
We have started working on our next national meeting to build on the success of the Spring conference in Leeds. As you know the Annual General Conference and Meeting will take place in Cambridge from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th October 2025. I thank Dr Omoniyi and his team in MANSAG East of England for accepting the challenge to organize and host MANSAG’s first ever mind-blowing family-centred Annual General Conference. I’m sure you will expect it to be a rich stimulating and inclusive meeting for our members and their families. I look forward to seeing you and your families there.
Dates for your diary:
- Saturday 19 July 2025 London MANSAG summer event. London. Ms Bola Odufuwa-Bolger.
- Friday 25 July 2025 National Diaspora Week Conference Abuja Nigeria. Hon Abike Dabiri
- Friday – Sunday 24 -26 October 2025 Annual General Conference and Meeting. Cambridge. Dr Mayowa Omoniyi
And finally,
It’s inspiring to hear of and feel the hard yards that members and their families are putting in everyday and experience how we are joined together to do the heavy lifting necessary to make our life and work in the UK a shining beacon of hope for ourselves and our loved ones. Your work reminds me of that ageless African philosophy, Ubuntu. ‘I am because we are.’ Put it in another way, one’s achievements rely on all of us achieving together! Dr Alex Oboh was asking us all to work hard together for our individual and communal benefit. What a noble call!
As the warm summer months descend, I wish you and all your loved ones a relaxing and fun filled holiday season.
Until next time remain blessed….
Jide,
Dr. Jide Menakaya
President MANSAG
