Health
The Abia chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abia has called on the state government to take urgent steps to strengthen the healthcare system in the state.
The call formed part of the communique issued at the end of the association’s stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia.
The communique, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, was jointly signed by the group’s Chairman and Secretary, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu and Dr Robinson Ugwuanyi, amongst 44 others.
The group stated that the poor condition of state health institutions and remuneration of the workers negatively affected healthcare delivery and training of medical students in the state.
Part of the communique read: “Almost all departments in Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) have lost accreditation in both postgraduate and medical colleges.
“The general and cottage hospitals in the state are in a dilapidated state due to the absence of government’s subvention to run the facilities under the Hospital Management Board.
“That ABSUTH, which is the oldest state-owned teaching hospital in the South-East, has the lowest wage bill and salary scales for workers, which is less than those of their contemporaries in other states.
“Our members in ABSUTH and HMB are currently owed 18 months and 15 months salary arrears, while other healthcare workers have been on strike for the past two weeks.”
The association further called for regular and proper remuneration of health workers in line with the “Adjusted CONMESS”, which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, with effect from April 18, 2019.
It also demanded the implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act 2017, COVID-19 Special Hazard Inducement Allowance and offsetting of the outstanding salary arrears.
The communique further called for the restoration of regular monthly subvention to state health facilities and meetings between the state and ABSUTH management.
It urged the state government to take measures to secure accreditation for all the courses in ABSUTH, rehabilitate the access road to the facility and overhaul state-owned hospitals.
The meeting appointed Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia as the Chairman of the association’s Action Implementation Committee, with Ugwuanyi as Secretary.
The committee comprises six other members drawn from the various branches and zones of the association in the state.
The meeting charged the committee to work assiduously to ensure that the communique was delivered to the government for immediate implementation. (NAN)
– Nov. 20, 2020 @ 17:35 GMT |
Tags: NMA urges measures to strengthen healthcare system in Abia
