The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Kogi branch, on Friday appealed to the state government to employ more doctors for better service delivery.
The state Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr. Osaretin Okaungbowa, made the appeal during the association’s ”Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2021”in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was: ”Kogi State Health System Strengthen: Where Are We?”.
He said the association was making the appeal owing to the inadequate number of doctors to serve the people of the state.
The chairman also enjoined the government to organize training for medical officers in its employ from time to time.
He commended the state government for the improved health care service delivery in the state and the approval of full CONMESS, the medical salary structure for all medical doctors in its employ.
Okaungbowa said that the approval of the salary structure would motivate doctors and boost service delivery in the state.
He noted that the association’s AGM was an “annual ritual “where professionals in government medical facilities gather to brainstorm on the successes, challenges and way forward in the health sector.
The chairman said that the new leadership of the association in Kogi had made significant and verifiable strides within one year in office.
Dr. Agbana Emmanuel, a consultant public health physician, who presented a paper on the conference theme, said Kogi was currently doing well in health care delivery.
According to Emmanuel, who is the Acting Provost, College of Health Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi currently has four tertiary health facilities; three owned by the state and one by federal government.
He commended the government for embarking on expansion of existing health institutions and upgrading of specialist hospitals
Emmanuel stressed that the theme of 2021 AGM was aimed at evaluating Kogi health system.
He disclosed that the state at the moment had 4,216 health workers , including 69 medical officers, nine consultants and 2,012 registered nurses.
“Right now, Kogi has 838 functional primary health facilities, 54 secondary health facilities and 1,144 private registered health facilities,” he said.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Kogi Hospital Management Board, Dr. Zakari Usman, assured that the state government would continue to accord the health sector topmost priority.
The CMD thanked NAGGMDP for supporting government in responding to the health needs of the people.
The state’s Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Simeon Oyiguh, appealed to governments at all levels and Nigerians to be wary of the rising insecurity across the country.
He called for joint efforts in the fight against insecurity, which he said, had claimed the lives of many.
Oyiguh commended the state government for its efforts at securing the lives of the residents and responding to their health needs
NAN reports that the highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards to doctors who have made some difference in their service to the state. (NAN)
