Association commends progress in FCT healthcare delivery

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday in Abuja expressed satisfaction with the progress made by FCT Administration in the health sector.

The FCT NMA Chairman, Dr Achonwa Chiedozie, made the commendation when he led the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the forthcoming NMA Annual General/Scientific Conference to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello.

According to him, NMA is delighted that the minister delivered on the pledges he made to the current executives of the association when the executives visited him two years ago.

Chiedozie, while briefing the minister on the conference scheduled for April 29 to May 6, recalled that the minister pledged to establish two new hospitals every year.

He said that the purpose was to keep pace with the demographic change and health care needs of people in the FCT.

Other pledges, the NMA boss recalled, were rectifying cases of doctors affected by placement on improper salary structures, capacity building and improvement in various departments of healthcare institutions in the territory.

He said, “we observed the adequate and steady delivery on these promises, as we witnessed the opening of two new hospitals last year and are very hopeful that same will be done this year.”

Chiedozie also commended the FCT Administration for increasing the number of health institutions accredited for residency training.

“We, therefore, want to commend FCT Administration over the increase in the number of hospitals and bed space, which positively impacted on healthcare delivery in the territory,” he added.

He noted that a major highlight of the forthcoming conference was a plan by the national body of the association to undertake a two-day free medical outreach on Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1.

“This involves surgery and consultations in Abaji General Hospital for a targeted 500 patients.

“Over 1,000 medical doctors will converge on Abuja from across the 36 states of the federation, as well as in the Diaspora,’’ he added.

The chairman also lauded the NMA partnership with the administration, saying it yielded positive results.

According to him, the joint effort resulted in the successful training of 150 health assistants, selected from various Primary Health Care Centres in the FCT on neonatal resuscitation.

Chiedozie said there was a plan to train another set of 65 health assistants at Dabi-Bako Primary Health Care Centre in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

The FCT NMA boss said members of the association visit the centre on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
to give three hours consultation, adding that the association planned to increase the number of days in due course.

The FCT minister expressed the administration’s readiness to continue to partner with the association toward improving healthcare delivery in the territory.

Bello said paucity of funds had affected the passion of the administration to meet its many ambitions for a significant leap in healthcare delivery.

He said the strategy of the administration was to encourage private sector investments in the area by creating enabling environment and facilitating ease of doing business.