NMA Ends NEC Meeting, Vows to Do More on Health Challenges Facing Nigerians

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale, has applauded the numerous achievements of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA under the leadership of Professor Mike Ogirima.

The Minister made the remarks in a massage to the NMA’s National Executive Council Meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State recently
Professor Adewale who was represented by Doctor Abbah Alabi said much have been achieved under the current leadership of Professor Ogirima.

He appealed for more robust relationship between the Federal Government and the NMA to address the challenges confronting the health sector.

The minister said he was particularly excited about the Free Health Care Services for the Rural Dwellers which was initiated by the NMA to mark its NEC meeting.

In a remark, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, said his administration will continue to accord priority attention to the health sector.
According to him, the five thematic areas of focus of his administration has health care in its second position.
The Governor maintained that he has embarked on the reconstruction of health care centers across the state.

In her message, the key note speaker and Chairman House Committee on Health Institutions, Mrs Betty Apairafi who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Legislative Compliance, Mr Olasepo Abiodun, described the event as an opportunity for members to deliberate on issues affecting their growth.

He charged them to come out with workable solutions to industrial disputes and quackery in the sector.
Earlier, the National President of the NMA, Professor Mike Ogirima who welcomed the delegates to the NEC meeting commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his consistent support for the health sector.

He said the NEC meeting with the theme; Governance and Leadership in the Health System, will assist in offering professional advice to those at the helms of affairs on how best to handle the health sector.

Similarly, the Chairman of the state chapter of the NMA, Mr Magnus Ogaraku, expressed appreciation to the Governor Yahaya Bello, his deputy, Simon Achuba and the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Ayoade Arike as well as theMark Muma Medical Mission Foundation for donating medicine and other consumables for the free rural medical outreach.
He said since his inception to office, he has worked tenaciously to attract government’s attention to the health sector.

According to him, a communiqué was issued at the end of the NEC meeting stressing that sustainability of donor funded programs in the face of economic recession, problems and prospects of post graduate medical training in Nigeria, disputes in health sector, were paramount issues that were considered.

He disclosed that the NMA embarked on free medical mission to Agassa, Iyano,and Ife Olukotun in Okene, Ibaji and Yagba East respectively adding that a total of 760 patients benefitted out of which 60 had surgical intervention.

Some of the NEC recommendations according to him includes; the need to intensify effort in the security aspect, the immediate operationalization of the NHAct 2014, according priority to the post graduate medical training through appropriate funding, immediate implementation of the Employees Compensation Act by Government.