Catholic Health Practitioners Urge Government To Invest More In Sector
Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ACMPN) has stressed the need for Federal and State Governments to invest more in the Health Sector.
The association made the call at its 18th Annual Conference and General Meeting held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Friday, 5th July, 2024, urging the government to also evolve better working environment for health workers in the country.
the Annual Conference had as its theme, “Integrating Spirituality Into Practice: Exploring Holistic Approach and Recognizing the Spiritual Nature of Man’,
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Matthew Ashikemi, National President of ACMPN, lamented that Nigerian medical practitioners were operating under unfavorable conditions which need urgent attention.
“We are saying that the Federal Government should take care of health workers, they should provide them with the things they need to work with for better service delivery.
“They should also ensure that health workers’ welfare is addressed, that will take care of so many things” he said.
Ashikemi said the conference which drew participants from across Nigeria was to enrich members to be better practitioners as Catholic faithful.
He urged Catholic medical practitioners to be exemplary by making more efforts to worship God through service to people.
“The theme for this year’s conference is very apt in our contemporary world today.
“Together with the sub themes on Bioethics, Sudden Death Syndrome Strengthening the Health System, affords us the opportunity to introspect, sober reflection and self- examine ourselves,” he said.
Contributing, Prof. Micheal Asuzu, the Chairman, ACMPN Board of Trustees, said it was unfortunate that the country had continued to lose her professionals without efforts to address the trend.
Asuzu cautioned that the brain drain phenomenon would not end soon until the factors responsible for it were given attention they deserved.
He said, “I will not stop anybody from going to where his life will be better but my advice is that they should keep an eye on Nigeria because we have fix it.
“I approve any application that comes my way because, if such a person goes out and becomes better, his family and the country will be better for it, I can not allow any of my students to be stranded in the street,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman on the occasion, Prof Anthony Igwegbe, admonished Catholic medical professionals to practice in compliance with the ethics set by the society and those by the Church.
Igwegbe, a former Chief Medical Director at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, stressed that professionals should serve God while rendering services to people, but when it conflicts with their faith, they should refer the patients elsewhere.
In his remark, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Evaristus Afiadigwe, informed that the AGM started on Thursday with medical outreach at St Felix Hospital and that no fewer than 500 patients attended.
Afiadigwe further intimated that no fewer than 150 delegates attended the conference physically, while many others joined virtually.
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