Southeast NMA Task States On Improved Healthcare Sector In Region


The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), South East caucus, says it is worried by the state of the healthcare system and security situation in the region.

The NMA South East Caucus comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo state branches made their position known in a Communiqué issued after its general meeting held Abakaliki on July 25

The Communiqué which was signed by Dr Jide Onyekwelu, and Dr Dubem Awachie, Chairman and Secretary of the South East caucus of NMA respectively was made available to journalists in Awka on Saturday.

The association called on the government of states in the region to be more committed to the improvement of the healthcare system for better service delivery.

The NMA caucus described the condition of health workers in Imo state as 'very poor' adding that the backlog of arrears owed their colleagues in Abia was unpalatable and unacceptable.

It commended Anambra and Enugu state governments for prompt and regular payment of doctors' salary but regretted that the pay fell far short of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS).

"The Caucus noted with dismay the very poor condition of healthcare
workers in Imo state, they are still being owed several months salary arrears.

"We appreciate the Governor of Imo State for appointing Dr Barth Okorochukwu as the Health Commissioner and hope for a turnaround in the health sector in the state.

"The outrageous salary arrears owed Abia State-employed doctors
remains an unpalatable and unacceptable situation, this has led to
the worsening of healthcare delivery in the state.

"We demand that as a matter of urgency, the Abia Government should pay the accrued arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, and make urgent efforts to revamp healthcare delivery in the state.

"Anambra State Government has continued to pay salaries regularly, however, it is yet to upgrade doctors' pay adjusted 2019 CONMESS, as is obtainable with their Federal counterparts," it stated.

The Onyekwelu led NMA caucus commeded Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi for his giant strides in the state's health sector and gave Enugu state clean bill of health for regular payment of salaries of healthcare workers,

They said the construction and equipping of a virology center and an accident and emergency complex at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital and other projects stood Ebonyi out in the region.

"These monumental achievements coupled with good road network
and prompt regular payment of salaries of health workers has made
Ebonyi State to stand out in the South East.

"The caucus commend the Ebonyi state governor and encourage him to continue with the positive transformations in healthcare delivery in the state," it stated.

The South East doctors opposed the removal of House Officers and NYSC Doctors from the Scheme of Service and Salary Structure of Medical Doctors

According to them, this action is with utmost bad fate and will seriously jeopardize healthcare delivery in Nigeria and capable of disrupting industrial harmony in the health sector.

"We demand for the immediate withdrawal of the obnoxious circular altering the scheme of service for doctors," it stated.

The NMA said the Federal Government and various state governments of the states in the Southeast should do more to protect the lives of the people of the region.

"We noted with sadness the worsening state of insecurity in the South East and in Nigeria as a whole.

"The increasing spate of killings, banditry, kidnapping and disruption of socioeconomic activities, portend grave danger to the health service delivery of our people.

"The safety of healthcare workers is paramount in ensuring their continued sacrifices and unhindered service delivery," it stated.

The Caucus noted the healthy progress being made with the construction of our National Secretariat in Abuja.