Dr Ashraf Abdulkareem is the Chief Medical Director of Shifaah Hospital in Lokoja the Kogi State capital. He is one of the youngest persons to have ever indicated interest to run for the position of Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). It was against this backdrop that he led members of his team to intimate Mohammed Yabagi of his agenda for the body and why he should be supported in the August 15th poll.
Excerpts;
Why should NMA members in Kogi State vote for your candidature?
What I bring to the table is unique. I am a bridge between the old and the new blood in the Kogi State arm of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). I may be young, but I understand the politics and the problems of the body in Kogi State. I have been a member of the Negotiation Team for the implementation of improved wages for medical Doctors in the state even from my time as the Staff of the state government while working at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
I also understand that a lot needs to be done to take care of the welfare of my colleagues in the profession because even as government is making its efforts, there is a lot that still needs to be done to ensure the issues confronting Doctors and their medical practice in Kogi State were addressed. I know I may not be the ideal candidate of choice to some people that have been used to the politics of old in the NMA, but I am here to give the body a new beginning, with continuation of the agenda of old designed to bring progress to my colleagues.
My agenda for the NMA in Kogi State also involves issues that would take care of welfare of members because they are doing extremely well despite prevailing circumstances in the state, their security in work place, completion of the NMA House and ensure it is facilitated with State of the Art Medical Facilities that would compete anywhere and other issues that relate to the necessary changes that would make the body the pride of all Medical practitioners in the country and around the world.
I may be young, but my interest is to bring together all Doctors from both federal, state and private health facilities in the state together to synergise for the progress and development of these facilities and the Doctors. NMA has been ‘crying’ for a new mode of leadership that take us away from what obtained to a new horizon that would bring about progress of the body and our members.
NMA now and before
Actually I must tell you that many progress have been recorded even though, as I said before, many things still need to be done. For instance, the state, under the current administration, has recorded progress, especially in terms of security. I must admit that there has been a sharp rise in criminality in many high ways around the state. But it is not like before when those hoodlums could follow people to their homes and offices to attack them. That is progress that we all must acknowledge.
Under my leadership, I want to create a workplace where Medical practitioners can feel absolute safety and do the job of providing healthcare services for the people without fear of attacks from both within and without. We want a situation where Doctors are free from any form of threat from the society they are trying to provide improved healthcare for.
Core of your programme for Kogi NMA
In the core of my plans for the NMA in Kogi State is an association or body that can galvanise Doctors to provide necessary services to the pubic because health is wealth and without a healthy society, productivity would be hampered. It is for that reason I want to have an NMA that has the interest of the public at heart while putting the interest of members at the centre of it all. I cannot stress the issue of better welfare for Doctors in Kogi State enough. I want Doctors in Kogi State to have a body they can trust to return the public confidence of old to. We must re-synergise with all stakeholders for societal progress and the wellbeing of the common man. In doing all of these, the wellbeing of the caregivers (the Doctors) must top the priority. I may be young but I have requisite experience to make the necessary change. In fact, my age is even an advantage because I can be approached an corrected where I may be presumed to be faltering. A win for me is a win for all Doctors in Kogi State, including those freshly from the med school.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I want to assure all NMA members in Kogi State that I have their best interest at heart. My ambition to be their Chairman is for the purpose of promoting including and ensuring a better working environment for them in the state. I can be trusted and they know it.
