Posted by On Sunday, the Federal and State Governments were asked by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to activate emergency readiness against the approaching flood.
At the conclusion of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association, which took place in Owerri between August 27 and September 3, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, the group’s president, made the call while speaking to reporters.
The theme of this year’s NEC conference, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is “Healthcare System in a Depressed Economy.”
According to NAN, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned that following the discharge of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, some States are likely to experience flooding.
Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Anambra are among the states.
“State governments should take preventative measures, especially in flood-prone areas, including desilting their drainage systems and removing barriers from flood plains.
We also implore governments at all levels to help these our fellow countrymen relocate by advising Nigerians who live in or near low lands to move to higher grounds, according to Ojinmah.
He also urged Nigerian state and federal governments to rapidly implement palliatives to help the country’s citizens cope with the devastating consequences of rising food prices and galloping inflation.
“We think the palliative should have been administered between June and September.
“We insist that these palliatives go to Nigerians and should no longer be a case of being stored in different warehouses,” he emphasized.
He pointed out that the economic foundation of the nation, which he said was insufficient to withstand capital flight, was fueling the flames of the medical brain drain.
“NEC urges the government to step up initiatives to combat pervasive insecurity in our nation as a panacea for economic recovery and to lessen medical brain drain.
“NEC thanks the Federal Government for the recent increase in our consolidated medical salary structure, but we would like to point out that the agreement for the increase, which took effect on June 1, was finalized on May 25, which was before the removal of fuel subsidies and the ensuing rise in inflation.
While eagerly anticipating the review of the minimum wage and subsequent adjustment, which we call on the government to implement seamlessly, NEC has instructed her national officers to give our dear government a new demand for an upward review of allowances.
President Bola Tinubu was lauded by Ojinmah for “the huge confidence he has reposed in the medical profession by populating his Federal Executive Council (FEC) with medical professionals.”
Additionally, he expressed his congratulations to all FEC-appointed physicians and officers, particularly Prof. Mohammed Pate, Minister of Health, and Minister of State for Health.
The NMA President expressed faith in the association’s representatives’ ability to succeed in the Federal Executive Council.
He urged fellow healthcare professionals to put down their tools, stating that the association he was leading was committed to forging a forward-thinking consensus for an improved healthcare system.
Ojinmah extended the association’s appreciation to the governors of the states of Katsina, Osun, Sokoto, and Cross River for enhancing the welfare of their health professionals in their states and for being doctor-friendly.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo received special praise from him for “hosting the NEC meeting and for graciously attending the opening ceremony with almost the entire state executive council.”
“NEC instructed the NMA Cross Rivers state to continue calling for the release of our colleague, Dr. Ekanem Ephraim, who has been kidnapped.
We urge the Cross Rivers State government to step up its efforts to secure the release of our colleague, who has been held captive for more than a month.
The grandmother has committed no crime other than remaining in the country to take care of the citizens, we beg the kidnappers to have pity on her and free her, Ojinmah implored.