NMA president laments health sector decay

The national president, Nigeria Medical Association, Kayode Obembe, has lamented the neglect of the health sector in Nigeria.

Mr. Obembe expressed his displeasure on Friday at the annual National Executive Council NEC of the union holding in Jos, Plateau state.

“Nigeria healthcare delivery system is currently facing an unprecedented crisis that has never been seen or imagine in the history of our nationhood,” he said.

He noted with regret that “today’s politicization of health polices and decisions have brought chaos and its attendant ills on our healthcare delivery system.”

The chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Plateau state chapter, Bupwatda Pokop, in an address appealed to incoming government at all levels to consider healthcare a priority.

“We want the aspirants at all levels to put healthcare issues in the front burner of their manifesto,” he said.

He told the gathering that the association desired to take health delivery to an enviable height “as leaders in the health sector, we have to strategically think of the health of Nigerians and the need for universal health coverage and the future of medical practice in Nigeria.”

It was gathered that nurses and medical laboratory scientists are currently on industrial action nationwide due to non-payment of due entitlements.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, David Paradang, challenged the NMA nationwide to embark on research to discover new drugs to cure diseases that are consider terminal.

Represented by Raymond Jaja, Mr Paradang appealed to government at all level to equip research centres nationwide to enable health practitioners in Nigeria perform their duties effectively.

The NIS boss also appealed to Nigeria Medical Association to avoid incessant industrial action in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang, Paul Wai, the Commissioner of Education, said Plateau state government has put in place policies and program to better the health sector.