By Stephen Adeleye.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kogi chapter, has appealed to the state government to ensure speedy implementation of the new hazard allowance for its doctors.
The association made the call in a Communique at the end of its second quarter of State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held on June 2, at its State Secretariat in Lokoja.
The communique was jointly signed by the Kogi NMA Chairman and Secretary; Dr Baoku Olusola and Dr Emmanuel B.J Kelvin respectively on Thursday in Lokoja.
The communique also urged Kogi government to domesticate and implement the medical Residency Training Act in the state.
According to the communique, after long deliberations and the observations made, the SEC resolved to do as follows:
“Appeal to Gov. Yahaya Bello to instruct the relevant departments and agencies in the state to speed up the bureaucracy in the path to achieving the implementation of the new hazard allowance for doctors in the employ of the state.
“Urge the Kogi government to domesticate and implement the medical residency training act in the state.”
The association congratulated Bello on the award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The NMA also commended the governor for his giant strides in the infrastructural investments in the state’s health sector.
The association, however, said there was need to close the human resources gaps in various health institutions at all levels, including state-owned health institutions, alongside significant movement of doctors out of the state’s employ.
It observed the wide margin between the salaries and allowances of doctors under the employ of the state and those in the Federal health institution which served contributed to the efflux of doctors from the state employment.
“Also implicated as contributing factor was the threat to the residency training in the Kogi State Specialist hospital (KSSH).
The association observed that the major culprit to the threat of residency training in the Kogi state Specialist hospital is delayed domestication/ implementation of the Medical Residency training Act as it was being done/implemented in FCT and other states.
The NMA, therefore, urged the state government to set up a high-powered panel to review and resolve these serious issues amongst others, affecting the medical profession and practice in the state. (NAN)
