NMA Calls for DSS Crackdown on the Medical Sector

NMA Calls for DSS Crackdown on the Medical Sector

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to extend the raid on the judiciary by the Department of State Services (DSS) to all other sectors of the economy, particularly the health sector.

This was declared by the President of NMA, Prof. Mike Ogirima, and its Secretary-General, Dr. Yusuf Sununu during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2016 Physicians’ Week with the theme, “Healthcare delivery in a frail economy: Challenges and way forward.”

According to the NMA, this year’s Physicians’ Week was aimed at demanding the implementation of the National Health Act 2014 by the Federal Government as a means of easing some of the challenges being experienced by Nigerians due to the economic recession, Punch writes.

“We call on the Federal Government to extend the anti-corruption crusade to all other sectors of the economy as it was done in the judiciary arm of the government. It is our belief that if this is extended to the health sector, the little resources available in the sector would be properly utilised to improve the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services to Nigerians  who are passing through the economic recession,” Ogirima said.

Furthermore, the NMA called on the Federal Government to ensure that all those accused of diversion of relief materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons are made to feel the wrath of the law, while offering free medical services to the 21 Chibok schoolgirls one week after their release from the captivity of Boko Haram Islamists.

“The NMA wishes to draw the attention of government to the negative impact of the psychological trauma and health challenges facing the released Chibok girls. We wish to stress here that we are ever ready to partner in providing voluntary specialist healthcare services to all the released Chibok girls through our members across the country,” he added.