RACHEAL RAMSON
The Nigerian Medical Association has called on the Federal and state Governments to muster enough political will to ensure quality and effective healthcare services across the country.
The national president of the association, Dr Francis Faduyile said this on Tuesday during a press conference to usher in the 2018 Physician Week in Rivers state.
Dr Francis Faduyile stated that although the government is doing a lot when it comes to Primary Healthcare, more needs to be done especially in equipping it with deserved instruments and facilities.
According to him ‘‘the current effort by the federal government to reinvigorate primary health care system through the building of primary health care centres in all wards of the federation to ensure the provision of affordable health care to all Nigerians is commendable’.
The NMA president also called for an urgent increase in funding for the health sector in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration by African Heads of states.
He stressed the essentiality of expanding medical management by digitalizing the healthcare system as the world is gradually progressing into the digital phase.
Dr Francis Faduyile said that in the 2001 Abuja declaration, a minimum of 15 per cent of the annual budget was agreed to be allocated to the health sector.
He noted that with adequate funds in the health sector, health care delivery will be easy to access irrespective of age and class.
He also said that as part of activities marking the physician week, members will engage in medical missions to help the less privileged in Nigeria and help increase access by Nigerians to quality health care.
Our correspondent RACHEAL RAMSON reports that the theme for the NMA physician week 2018 is Universal Health coverage: leaving no one behind.
