South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Speaker Abia state House of Assembly ,Rt Hon.Chinedum Orji has disclosed the readiness of the 7th Abia House of Assembly to synergize with the Nigerian Medical Association Abia state chapter to bring solutions to the various problems facing the health sector in the state,adding that because of how important health care delivery is to the present administration led by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu ,that the Abia House of Assembly in conjunction with the Governor of the State will work out means of making those problems facing the health sector in Abia state ,a thing of the past .
The Speaker while speaking in Umuahia wondered why the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria could be sanctioning its members by closing up unqualified pharmacists while Nigerian Medical Association can not do so,adding that it is important that they improve the quality of their personnel by training and retraining them.
He urged Abians to take their health very seriously. He informed that the Abia State House of Assembly is not witch hunting anybody or institution as it is only carrying out its oversight functions, adding that posterity would not be kind to the House members if they fail to exercise their oversight functions.
He revealed that just this year, the Abia State House of Assembly has passed into Law “The Abia State Primary Healthcare Law no 2 of 2019” and that the 7th House is not resting on its oars as it has continued to make laws for the betterment of the people. He stressed the need for enough information to be provided for rural dwellers to build confidence in the primary healthcare delivery system in Abia State.
The Speaker said the 7th Abia State House of Assembly as part of its oversight functions wants to know exactly what is happening at the Abia State Primary Health Centres, hence, the recent setting up of three ad hoc committees on health alone. He said that as an integral part of the State government, when the committees are done, government would tackle the issue of salaries of doctors in the State even as he promised to provide the legislative environment that would boost efficient delivery of members of the Nigerian Medical Association .
On the issue of adoption of one permanent primary health center , in each constituency as suggested by NMA ,he said the House will look into it as soon as the House resume ,even as he said the Governor is giving health care delivery implementation ,a top priority
Her Address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State Chapter, Dr (Mrs) Caro Iwuoha called on each Honourable Member of the Abia State House of Assembly to prioritize healthcare in their respective constituencies and go further by taking responsibility for at least one Primary Healthcare Centre within their localities with a view to making them model centres.
She appreciated the Speaker for hitting the ground running soon after his emergence as the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
She pointed out that ,” the conference in addition offers an opportunity for doctors who are front line providers of healthcare to also have a health check .This is in keeping with our new Hippocratic Oath which captures the need for the physician to be healthy to enable him handle effectively the sick .Also of relevance is the opportunity for our younger colleagues to be enlightened through the career progression seminar .Our skills and knowledge will equally be improved through the various scientific presentations ”
Dr Iwuoha said the NMA is committed to enhancing healthcare delivery in the State, assuring that the body would contribute to building capacity of its manpower in the facilities across the state
Many other speakers at the conference sought for mandatory legislation on Compulsory Health Insurance Scheme in Abia State and health care delivery in the State.