NEWS: Police introduce compulsory medical check for officers

[Adebayo, Ayodele (CDC/NIOSH/DSHEFS)]

http://www.tribune.com.ng/07052008/news/news13.html

Iwendi: Police introduce compulsory medical check for officers
07.05.2008

The Nigeria Police Force said on Tuesday that it had introduced compulsory medical check up for all officers from Assistant Commissioner of Police and above.

The development came one day after the death of Mr Haz Iwendi, the Commission of Police for Kaduna State, who was reported to have slumped and passed away.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, said this on Tuesday in Abuja when the police management team paid him a condolence visit.

“Henceforth, ACPs, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) must go for annual medical check up abroad to certify their health status,’’ Okiro said. He said that while ACPs would have the option of undergoing their medical check up in the country, DCs and CPs must go outside the country to enable them to have a good rest.

Okiro, however, said “the force will not pay for it (check up) but it is compulsory.” He said he was optimistic that all DCs and above could afford to travel out side the country for medical check up. “The level of stress in police work is too much, so we must not kill ourselves, the job will continue whether we are alive or not,” he said.

Moderator comment:
It is good news that police officers are required to have an annual medical check up. I however think it is sad that the senior officers are mandated to go outside the country for ordinary check-up and expect them to pick the tab…Are they that well paid or are we creating another avenue for embezzlement? The premise "to have a good rest" is very wrong and it also does not speak well of our medical system (assuming we have one).

Ayo Adebayo
Moderator

[Kunle Oyekanmi]

I don't really see anywhere in the story where they are going to be responsible for the cost of the "medical check up" in or outside the country, so, my assumption is that the bills for such check ups will be footed by the government/police. Well, I support the idea of regular medical check ups for all officers and men of the Nigerian Police and this should include neuropsychological evaluation to determine continued fitness to work in safety and security. However, I am not certain going out the country will be the answer to determine fitness for duty. There are occupational health physicians in Nigeria who can work with Nigerian Police to develop and implement standards for medical clearance of police officers and men. It is unclear to me if going outside the country will translate into "good rest."

Good police work is indeed stressful anywhere in the world. Nigeria is no exception. The answer is in a good benefits package that takes into consideration the nature of their job and then determines vacation, sick/disbility leave, eap services and other perks as may be necessary as it obtains in other parts of the world.

The occupational health consultants in Nigeria should make use of this opportunity to help the Nigerian Police develop a program for its officers and men. I am not naive to think that it is going to be easy to get such done or that some officers will not attempt to subvert the process and pocket whatever is allocated for such a service while keeping the status quo.

It is still worth a try.

There are indeed relatively good private medical facilities in Nigeria where most tests obtainable outside the country can be done and executive physicals can be done at those places as well. There should be a review process for medical clearance of the officers after the tests and those flagged should have room for appeal.

 

'Kunle Oyekanmi

OEM Physician

"Adebayo, Ayodele (CDC/NIOSH/DSHEFS)" <by...@cdc.gov> wrote:

http://www.tribune.com.ng/07052008/news/news13.html

Iwendi: Police introduce compulsory medical check for officers
07.05.2008

The Nigeria Police Force said on Tuesday that it had introduced compulsory medical check up for all officers from Assistant Commissioner of Police and above.

The development came one day after the death of Mr Haz Iwendi, the Commission of Police for Kaduna State, who was reported to have slumped and passed away.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, said this on Tuesday in Abuja when the police management team paid him a condolence visit.

"Henceforth, ACPs, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) must go for annual medical check up abroad to certify their health status,'' Okiro said. He said that while ACPs would have the option of undergoing their medical check up in the country, DCs and CPs must go outside the country to enable them to have a good rest.

Okiro, however, said "the force will not pay for it (check up) but it is compulsory." He said he was optimistic that all DCs and above could afford to travel out side the country for medical check up. "The level of stress in police work is too much, so we must not kill ourselves, the job will continue whether we are alive or not," he said.

Moderator comment:
It is good news that police officers are required to have an annual medical check up. I however think it is sad that the senior officers are mandated to go outside the country for ordinary check-up and expect them to pick the tab...Are they that well paid or are we creating another avenue for embezzlement? The premise "to have a good rest" is very wrong and it also does not speak well of our medical system (assuming we have one).

Ayo Adebayo
Moderator

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[Adebayo, Ayodele (CDC/NIOSH/DSHEFS)]

I agree that work-related physicals should be covered and paid for by the employer. However, I think it is wrong that the IG is mandating that this be done outside the shores of Nigeria and that it be footed by the workers. See the last paragraph of the article...

 

Ayo Adebayo

OEM MD

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From: afr...@googlegroups.com [mailto:afr...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kunle Oyekanmi
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:36 AM
To: afr...@googlegroups.com
Subject: (AfrOEM) Re: NEWS: Police introduce compulsory medical check for officers

[Shade Monehin]

And why should the medical examination be limited to the superior ranks only? And why abroad? Tactless, I will say.

A comprehensive pre-employment and periodic medical (including mental state assessment) examination process must be instituted for all the rank and file as well as the officers cadre. A good step will be to enrol every Policeman into the health insurance scheme.

 

Joseph Monehin

[olub...@umn.edu]

Obviously, the medical system in Nigeria is competent enough to perform
annual physicals, mandating that it be done outside the country is simply a
corrupt way for top officials to get a free vacation because we all know it
is not coming out of their pocket. I also fail to see the link between rest
and physical check up for some reason, unless there is a typo and it was
supposed to read 'test'.

Yemisi.

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