By Damilola Alamu
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental
Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has called on state governments to provide
appropriate infrastructural development of the Secondary Health Care
so as to accomplish the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The call was made in a communique jointly signed by National President
of NAGGMDP, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla and General Secretary, Dr. Nura
Abubakar, issued on Thursday, at the end of the National Executive
council meetings of NAGGMDP.
The inaugural National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for the
2019/2020 Executive year of the Association was held in Ilorin,
between Thursday13th and Sunday 16th June, 2019.
The Theme of the NEC meeting was entitled: “State of Secondary Health
Care System in Nigeria: Catalysing a Paradigm Shift,”.
According to the communique, states of the federation must focus on
Secondary Health care, and that it is the health components of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developing the tertiary
services.
The NAGGMDP advised state governments to also appropriate adequate
fund that shall ensure timely payment of salaries as and at when due.
The communique added that this will enhance an improved overall
welfare, motivational plans and capacity building for their respective
health personnel.
It stated that: “State governments should activate appropriate
machineries towards safety and security of lives and properties in
work place so that health workers deployed to work at all levels and
in difficult, hard-to-reach terrain are duly protected as they render
services in their assigned community of practice and serve as the
image of good governance.
The NAGGMDP disclosed that it will further engage the state
governments through the Governors’ forum towards ensuring that well
organised and functional health systems are instituted in their
respective states.
The association therefore implores all stakeholders in health care to
respect and join the advocacy for compliance with extant health laws.
It stated further that the stratification into primary, secondary and
tertiary with appropriate referrals should be duly made functional,
adding that this will empower the citizens and minimise inter-city and
states’ search for medical havens even among the low income earners.
“NAGGMDP hereby call on well meaning Nigerians and other Executive
governors in the country to appeal to Executive Governor of Abia State
towards acceding to the demands of the health workers in the State and
thus restoring normalcy in the health care sector,” it said.
The Association however lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for
specifically highlighting the levels of care and pledging commitment
to ensuring that the Health system works again in Nigeria.
It also called on the FG to appoint a “medically qualified person with
in-depth knowledge and experience in position to drive the health
sector as a Minister in the Federal Executive Council.
