NMA seeks support to eradicate measles in Nigeria

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for the support of government at all levels and other Nigerians in eradicating measles in the country as was done in the case of Ebola and polio.

Reading a communique issued at the end of the of her national executive council meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, National President of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said they are in full support of the universal health coverage.

He said this has been the focus of the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) of the association and they believe the instrument of the full implementation is through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“NMA is poised to eradicate measles from our country. We have kicked out polio and Ebola. Everybody should join hands with NMA to achieve this. Therefore, our physicians week in October shall focus on measles,” Obembe said.

They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a medical doctor as the minister of health as well as to bringing out of the white paper on Yayale Ahmed Report because it will promote industrial harmony in the health sector.

While expressing delight over the National Health Act that made provision for 1% consolidated revenue fund through the NHIS while the other 50% goes to the Primary Health Care lamented the incessant strikes that have bedeviled the health sector which is due to the fact that circulars issued by the government were not cash backed.

They added that an interim, supplementary allocation should be made to pay for such commitments while on a long term basis, it must be clearly defined as a budget heading in 2016 appropriation.

On medical tourism, Obembe noted with shock as Nigeria lose N250 billion, adding that solution to the problem is for all the tertiary health institution to be well equipped with modern equipment to replace the obsolete ones.

“Also, this is why NMA has been clamouring for the post of Surgeon General which is paramount in our health system,” he said.

NMA however expressed worry at the rate with which the so-called regulatory bodies, apart from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), invade hospitals. They therefore appealed to the police to cooperate with NMA in ensuring that no regulatory body apart from MDCN is allowed to come and interrupt doctors while they are on their legitimate vocation of saving lives as this constitute distraction and interruption in the hospital environment.