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Insecurity deprives Nigerians access to quality healthcare — NMA

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says the spate of insecurity in parts of the country has deprived Nigerians access to quality healthcare.

Dr Ola Ahmed, the Kwara branch Chairman of the NMA, stated this in Ilorin on Tuesday during a news conference organised as part of the activities marking the 2023 Physician’s Week.

He said: “The spate of insecurity in our nation is unbearable and has negatively impacted on our members and invariably on the healthcare delivery to our people.

“The fear of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery has really deprived our citizens of access to quality care especially in the rural communities where the menace is rampant.”

Ahmed appealed to governments at all tiers and revered traditional leaders to review their approaches to tackling insecurity and come out with workable strategies to secure the lives and properties of the citizens.

He observed that the country is passing through difficult time, while the citizens bear the brunt.

He however assured that the association is exploring all peaceful avenues towards securing some economic reprieve for members.

The NMA chairman also decried the slow pace of payment of their slightly improved salary to members.

He appealed to the Kwara Government to immediately commence payment of recently reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) with thier arrears and also the Accoutrement allowances for medical doctors and dentists.

“I hope there won’t be need for us yo engage in another round of agitation for the implementation of what has been circulairised since July 2023,” he said.

The NMA chairman, however, commended Gov. AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq for efforts in rehabilitation of hospitals across primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

He also commended the government’s initiative on health insurance for citizens, noting that the KwaraCare is for the indigent to access healthcare affordably.

Ahmed, who also noted the commitment of the Kwara government to recruit more doctors, lamented the dearth of doctors willing to stay, due to Japa syndrome.

“Subsidy removal has eroded everything, our members are leaving. And in the last few years because of COVID-19, we have not been able to graduate doctors. But we are hopeful to get more young doctors,” he said.

Ahmed explained that the Physician’s Week is a time-honoured tradition and celebration of Kwara doctors as well as doctors across Nigeria who tirelessly work to improve the lives and health of citizens.

“Some of the activities marking the week includes Scientific Conference, discussions on medical doctors welfare, courtesy visits and young doctors day,” he said.

He further stated that the theme of the Physician’s week is entitled: ‘This is Our Chance: To Get it Right in the Health Sector’.

He added that the sub-themes are: ‘The Abuja Declaration – 22 Years After”, and also “The Ethical Issues in Human Organ Donation’.

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