By Christopher Lula, GOMBE
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Ph.D, has commended the officials and all members of the medical profession over strict adherence to ethics and discipline towards provision of quality healthcare services to the people.
The Deputy Governor while addressing the members of the profession during their NEC Meeting at International Hotel, Gombe,said their posture on ethics has helped in avoiding a situation where the noble profession is ridiculed.
The Deputy Governor noted with delight the convergence of the medics across the country in Gombe State as germane, apt and beneficial to the state as it struggles to provide, improve, and ensure effective device delivery in the health sector.
He said" to God be the glory and gratitude for granting us the favour, grace and priviledgde to witness the event organized by the Nigerian Medical Association. In good time let me present welcome, greetings and goodwill of His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya the Governor of Gombe State, the government and residents of Gombe State."
"For those coming to Gombe for the first time (even as I wish that it shall be the beginning) the State which is christened “Jewel in the Savannah” is in the centre of the North East Geopolitical Zone. It is the home of hospitality, peace, prudent management of resources, good governance and a state that desires/aims at economic development as opposed to economic growth which is what the nation is witnessing now."
"It is on account of this that the state has developed and launched the Ten Year Development Plan (2021 – 2030). Furthermore, the state has been a good neighbour to the other five states to the extent that the population is surging quite beyond the geometric progression highlighted by Rev. Robert Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) who in addressing the issue of population pinpointed the adverse effect of over population".
"In essence Gombe State is witnessing a situation where all facilities are over stretched. Of course the all important health sector is no exception. In the face of the numerous challenges and competing demands on the government, our government placed health as its first priority, for this obvious reason. “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless and intelligence cannot be applied. (Herophilus (335 – 280 BC).” Based on the reality, this present administration that came on board on the 29th of May, 2019 has: (i) Established the Gombe State Hospital Services Management Board. (ii) Established Health Centres that operate 24/7 in all the 114 Electoral wards in the state. (iii) Work in progress towards the completion of Mega Hospitals in the three Senatorial Districts of the state, while Cottage Hospitals were revitalized in Deba, Bojude, Kuri and Malam Sidi. (iv) The only state in the Federation that provided Toyota Hilux vehicles to the Surveillance and Response Team in all the 11 Local Government Area Councils. (iv) When Covid-19, the disease that caught the entire world napping, the state established and equipped a Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory to test the Virus as against the practice of going to Erua or at best Abuja just to test blood samples. We are determined to go beyond testing Covid-19 and test Measles, Yellow Fever and Rubella, Lassa fever, Ebola, Monkey Pox, or even Elephant pox should it debut. (v) Related to item (iv) above is the establishment of Covid-19 Isolation Centres in the three Senatorial Districts in addition to the state Specialist Hospital and the Federal Teaching Hospital where Isolation Centres exist. (vi) Upgrading of the State Specialist Hospital to enable commencement of training of House Officers and Post Graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Family Health. (vii) Establishment of the Gombe State Contributory Health Care Management Agency to bring quality healthcare to the door steps of our people. (viii) Just on the 26th of August 2022, the state received a National Award from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for the best state in the North East for Vaccination against Covid-19".
"Much as the State has carried the above, we are very much aware that health is too important to be handled without partnership, support, collaboration, adherence to the Feedback Mechanism among others. That being the case, the meeting of the National Executive Council here in Gombe is germane, apt, beneficial and indeed a great push to the state as it struggles to provide, improve and ensure effective delivery service in the health sector, lest we fail like the nation failed in the provision of Health for All by the Year 2000.
That the Leadership of NMA came up with the theme of this year’s meeting as “Strengthening Nigerian Health Care System” could not have come at a better time than now, that health challenges seems to overwhelm the human race. With the operation of the Inverse Care Land (ICL), the emergence of hitherto unknown diseases, in addition to stubborn disease that are resistant to medicines and are not in a hurry to, coupled with the economic down turn that is increasing the poverty level by the day and the standard of living being on the decline, only a Strengthening Nigerian Health Care System can save the population"
"It is lamentable that in the Federation the North East sub region is known to have some of the worst indices in Child and Maternal prevalence of infection diseases, abject poverty that has eroded means of livelihood occasioned by the activities of terrorists, bandits and the like. May I appeal therefore that your NEC meeting pay special attention to some of these environments. Furthermore, permit me to deviate and observe that in “Strengthening Nigerian Health Care System” there is the compelling need of applying the System Theory pinpointed by Talcotts Parsons (1902 – 1979) to the effect that all stakeholders must be involved for the successful attainment of any goal. With Philosophical statements like “diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body” Cicero (106 – 43 BC) the challenge for a wider knowledge of the patients come in handy.
As someone who has been following trends in the NMA, I wish to commend the Association for its stand on discipline that is usually meted to those who do not adhere to the professional ethics. I urge you to keep it up, to avoid a situation where the noble profession is ridiculed.
Gombe State government appreciates the decision of NMA to host the NEC meeting here and is grateful for the Medical Outreach conducted. Be assured that the State is available to host your Annual General Meeting, should you decide to do. I wish you successful deliberations, just as I declare open the National Executive Council Meeting of your Association in the desire of effective health delivery service in the nation and to humanity all to the glory of our Creator" he added.
In his remarks the President, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah welcomed the members to the NEC meeting and appreciated Gombe State for according them the opportunity to meet in the state.
He highlighted on their efforts and successes immidiately after coming on board to include activating the course of harnessing all their colleagues in the top echelon of public service, and those in elective and appointed positions with advocacy visits, and reducing the cost of running the NMA secretariat among others.
He expressed hope that the NEC meeting would help in profering solutions to challenges facing the medical profession in order to provide a conducive atmosphere for medical practice.
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Idris Muhammad applauded the choice of the theme for the NEC Meeting" Healthcare delivery in the face of insecurity" calling on them to use the opportunity in providing solutions to myriads of challenges facing the society including the health sector.
He appreciated them for non participation in strike, urging them to maintain the integrity and respect of the profession.
Goodwill messages came from a renown medical practitioner, and pioneer Chief Medical Director, Gwagwalada National Hospital, Dr. Danjuma Sulai, The Vice Chancellor, Federal Unity Kashere Prof.Umar Pate, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Mustapha Mohammed and the newly elected President, World Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele who noted the rising spate of insecurity in Africa with tremendous health implications and depletion of health care resources, calling for renewed efforts towards creating of enabling environment for medical practice.
Dr. Danjuma Sulai poured encomiums on the Deputy Governor as a partner of the medics having written a book recently on the sociology of medicine providing alternative remedies in healthcare delivery.
The Commissioner of Health Dr. Habu Dahiru explained to the gathering that the state government has upgraded three hospitals in each Senatorial District to serve as referral centres from the healthcare centres in the 114 wards in the state all in an effort to ensure every citizen has access to health care.
He pledged to partner with NMA to ensure improvement in the service delivery especially that the state wants to introduce Laboratory Medicine in the state University.
Earlier, in their separate addresses, the NMA Chairman Gombe State, Dr. Khalifa Abdulsalam and the Local Organizing Chairman, Dr. Mahdi Mohammed Bello welcomed the participants to the NEC Meeting and wished them successful deliberations.
He expressed happiness that the meeting shall provide opportunity to the participants to be exposed to the brilliant leaders and exchange ideas towards improving on medical practice.
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