… Says Oyo ready for outbreak of Diphtheria
The Nigerian Medical Association {NMA}, Monday, called on the Federal Government and all state governments to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector to 15 per cent and more in order to revamp the sector.
The President of NMA, Dr. Uche Rowland Ojinmah, stated this while addressing journalists on the 2023 Physicians’ Week,
The week has the theme: ‘’This is our chance: To get it right in the health sector”, while a former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa and others are expected to grace the occasion .
The Oyo State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Wale Lasisi, who delivered the message of the president, at the Oyo State House of the body, Ibadan, the state capital, lamented that the sector is in a dire situation that needed urgent attention.
He said: ‘’The National Health Act that recommends 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the health sector. That recommendation should be upheld. The Federal Government and states should implement the recommendation to revamp the sector’’.
The NMA President also warned against any attempt to stop funding of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria {MDCN} from next year, saying it is ill-conceived and can only lead to disaster.
He said: ‘’The plan to stop funding of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria {MDCN} from next year is ill-conceived and can only lead to disaster. The job of MCDC which is regulation of medical and dental practice is so important that funding her by the government is appropriate’’.
He also warned against the politicization of medical training, adding that anyone who cannot pass the examination should come for coaching.
The NMA President expressed displeasure at the media trial of some healthcare workers by the Minister of Women Affairs.
He said: ‘’Anyone who cannot pass the examination should come for coaching. Nobody should politicize medical training. The practice of medicine is regulated in Nigeria and anywhere in the world’’.
‘’We use this medium to humbly sound a note of warning to all and sundry to never try to run Nigerian doctors down in any way but to always follow due process if aggrieved or in discharging their responsibilities. If anyone has any case against any doctor practicing in Nigeria, it should channel such to the Registrar of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria {MDCN} for appropriate response being the body statutorily saddled with such responsibility.
‘’The Nigerian Medical Association hereby expresses her displeasure at the media trial of some healthcare workers by the Minister of Women Affairs.
‘’Anyone who cannot pass the examination should come for coaching. Nobody should politicize medical training. The practice of medicine is regulated in Nigeria and anywhere in the world’’.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for giving a waiver to doctors and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU} in payment of their salaries during strikes.
He also said:‘’Oyo State is ready for Diphtheria. Emergency has been provided. Oyo is ready for outbreak of Diphtheria’’