WorldStage Newsonline– The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has appealed to the Federal Government to honour all agreements with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and end the ongoing strike in the nation’s health sector.
This is coming as Dr Francis Adedayo is elected as the new President of the association.
Adebayo was elected on Sunday at the end of the association’s 58th Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting held in Abuja.
Also elected into the National Officers Committee of the NMA to run the affairs of the association for the next two years were Dr Kenneth Tijo, first Vice President; Dr Ofem Enang, second Vice President.
Dr Olumuyiwa Peter, was elected Secretary General; while Dr Benjamin Ikechukwu, became Deputy Secretary General.
Others were Dr Ayuwaja Nayagawa as National Treasurer; Dr Abdulgafar Jimoh, National Financial Secretary; and Dr Obitade Obimakinde National Publicity Secretary.
In his acceptance remarks, Adebayo said that the new executives would deliver their duties with vigor and carry every member along in the running the affairs of the association.
“Every part of the health sector would be represented; we want to be fair and promote the profession, and also to see that our workers work well.
“We also want to sensitise the public on what NMA is doing so that they can support us as we need public support to move forward.”
The NMA president called on government to improve the work environment and upgrade the infrastructure in the health sector to meet international standard.
In a communiqué read by the new President at the end of its 58th Annual General/Scientific and Delegates’ Conference, the association said it disparaged the strike and appealed to the Federal Government to end it soon.
JOHESU, a union comprising all health workers in Nigeria, apart from medical doctors and dentists, began a nationwide indefinite strike on April 18.
“We disparage the ongoing strike action by JOHESU and appeal to government to honour its agreements with all health workers.’’
On medical tourism, the association said that: “We call on the government to improve the work environment and upgrade the infrastructure to meet international standards in order to reverse medical tourism”
However, NMA applauded the government for its efforts in rehabilitation of primary health institutions in the country.
“We applaud the efforts of the government in rehabilitating Primary Health Centres and other institutions in Nigeria.
“We appeal for the accreditation of such centres as primary providers of health services in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)”
“We want to commend the senate for improved budgetary provision in the 2018 budget for the health sector.
“We commend the senate for approving the inclusion of one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation in the 2018 budget.
“For improved funding of primary healthcare in Nigeria as mandated by the National Health Act 2014.’’
The association also called on the government to increase budgetary allocation release for health to meet 15 per cent of the total budget, to embrace the universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the association has elected new national officers to run its affairs for the next two years.
