By Isreal Adamu, Jos
Plateau State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, is currently holding it’s three day Annual General Meeting, AGM, and scientific conference.
Our correspondent reports that the AGM,brought together all medical personnel from across the state.
Declaring the occasion open yesterday, the Lawmaker representing Mangu,Bokkos Federal Constiituency Hon Ishaya Lalu who was the chairman of the occasion decried the brain drain syndrome in the health sector, saying it is negatively affecting the country.
He also appealed to doctors to consider their oath to save lives and show more commitment to duty.
Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Plateau state Dr Bapigaan Audu who spoke earlier expressed worry over quackery in the medical profession in the Nation stressing that Government at all levels should make concerted efforts to tackle the menance.
In his words ” The theme of this AGM titled Patient Advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration in combating the meance of medical quackery is apt and carefully chosen to raise the consciousness of the public on the damaging effects of medical quackery.
He also called for necessary actions from the Government of Plateau state and the relevant security and regulatory agencies.
“The Searchlight must be beamed further than the urban areas into the rural areas where these quacks are having a field day largely due to the absence of standard medical facilities and the requisite, trained human resource for health to man these centers where they are available”
Dr Bapigaan also added that the NMA in Plateau state has collaborated with security agencies to rid the health space of quacks
He added that ” The Government should see health as the right of every Nigerian and ensure that no one is denied the health services he or she needs as a result of poverty or other health disparities. ”
“Health care financing should be prioritized ”
Prof. Nuhu Dakum who gave a key note address titled “Patient Advocacy and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Combating the Menace of Quackery lamented the lack of access to quality in some communities stressing that if all citizens has access to quality health care irrespective of their status in the society quackery would have been eliminated.
Prof. Dakum further said health education is very important therefore citizens should be properly guided on the need to go to recognized Government hospitals for treatment.
According to him, regulatory agencies like MDCON, PCN and other monitoring teams should beam their searchlight to identified quack doctors with a view to flushing them out before much harm is caused on citizens.
