NMA Advocates Establishment Of Medical Service Commission
BY Michael Ezenwata
The Zonal Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Emma Umenweke, has called on the federal government to establish Medical Service Commission to enhance welfare of doctors in Nigeria.
Dr. Umenweke made the call in Awka during the
Luncheon/Award giving ceremony of the Nigerian Medical Association in Awka.
According to the NMA Zonal Chairman, the federal government should upgrade healthcare facilities across the country to check brain drain, or migration of doctors to developed countries of the world.
He added that efforts should be geared towards funding the health sector and bringing the nation’s health care facilities up to international standard to change the narrative from poor healthcare facilities to updated medicare to the citizenry.
In his opening remarks, a one time Awka Zonal Chairman of the association, Dr. Eric Anazodo, acknowledged the imperatives of the NMA activities usually held every last week in October and appreciated the doctors for their resilience.
Dr Anazodo expects the federal government to accord all respects to medical practitioners with a view to promoting health delivery in the country.
In a remark, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Awka Zone of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Cyprian Afunugo, also appreciated the doctors for their doggedness and wished them well in the discharge of their onerous duties.
Another former Chairman of the Awka Zone of the association, Dr Oliver Onwughalu, appreciated the efforts of doctors in saving lives, and expects all doctors to be more alive to their responsibilities especially at this period of the nation’s economic down-turn.
An NMA award wlnner for the year 2022, Dr. Chiemelu Emechebe, expects the Nigerian government to invest much in the health sector to check brain drain, or doctors trooping of the shores of Nigeria.
On his part, another NMA 2022 award winner Dr. Uzoma Mbaeri, made a passionate appeal to the government of the day to promote policies that will favour health advancement in the country.
Dr.Mbaeri listed enhancement in doctors social and physical security as some measures that will check brain drain.
Also Speaking, a member of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Ernest Ifebi, expressed joy that the zone has once again recognized him to render his stewardship and further wished all his professional colleagues well in their vocation.
Highpoints on the occasion were the rededication of doctors to the Hippocratic oath, swearing in of members of the Board of Trustees and presentation of awards to some medical doctors in the zone.
It will be recalled that the zone before the award ceremony embarked on visitation to the elderly members of the association, visited some motherless babies homes in Awka, embarked on health talk at the Gran Hermano Academy in Awka, played novelty match with Catholic Priests of the Awka Diocese, held its scientific conference at the state secretariat of the Association at the Amaku Teaching hospital Awka, etc.
The events were coordinated by the Awka Zonal Chairman of the association, Dr Emma Umenweke, the 2022 Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association physicians week, Dr Dim Basil, the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr.Jane Ezeonu, and other members of the executive of the Awka Zone of the association.
