ASABA – The outgoing Chairman, Nigerian medical Association (NMA), Delta state chapter, Dr Monday Osarenkhoe, has urged the Federal Government to create the office of Surgeon-General.
Osarenkhoe made the call at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference in Asaba on Friday.
The theme of the AGM is: “Improving Health care Delivery in Nigeria: The Role of the Surgeon-General of the Federation”.
He said the appointment of surgeon-general “will safe the health sector politics”.
Osarenkhoe said the theme of the conference was apt given the low ranking of the nation’s health sector among other health sectors across the world.
The outgoing chairman said the surgeon-general when appointed would be the custodian of the country’s public health.
He said the officer would also serve as the nation’s number one public health officer, a development, he said, would reduce political interference in the operations of the nation’s health sector.
According to him, the office will also help to resolve issues related to the distribution of human and material resources in the sector.
“The officer will be the Chief Medical or Health Adviser of the country. The officer holding this position should be a physician. It is not restricted to the military.
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“Its creation and appointment will shield the health care delivery system in Nigeria from the vagaries of politics and whims of politicians.
“The establishment of the position will help to mitigate industrial disharmony and its attendant incessant withdrawal of service that has plagued the health sector in recent times.
In her address, the Chairman, NMA, Asaba zone, Dr Michelle Okonkwo, decried the huge financial loss the country suffered from medical tourism.
“The huge economic loss is heart-aching. What needs to be done to reverse this trend should be our collective responsibility,” Okonkwo said.
Okonkwo said that proper health financing would enhance service delivery in both public and private health institutions in the country.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Victor Oraegbu, urged members of the association in Delta to always support the activities of the national body.
“We doctors are currently on strike and it is for a purpose and we have the interest of the people at heart.
“The strike is not about money but about recognition, integrity, relevance and the patients stand as number one.
Oraegbu, who was the pioneer NMA chairman in Delta, said “the strike is for the patients benefit and the issue is on how to deliver the best practice.
“We want to take care of the patients because there must be a leader and the hospital cannot be run by just anybody; so, the leadership of the doctor is under contention.
The AGM started on July 27 with thanksgiving service and is expected to end with a change in leadership of the association on Aug. 2. (NAN)
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