Ahead of the March 2 governorship polls, the Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos state chapter, has declared its intention to support the gubernatorial candidate with good health agenda that would address the plight of the health sector.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, the association stated that it is worrisome to see a large number of medical professionals leaving the country for greener pastures due to the rot in the sector.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the association, Dr Saliu Oseni, said part of the strategic way of addressing the brain drain among medical professionals was to provide the enabling environment for effective practice.
The chairman said issues affecting the health sector would form the crux of discussions with candidates during a debate to be organized by the association as he emphasized that the association would support only the candidate who is sensitive and ready to address the plight of the association.
On quackery, the association disclosed that it is strategically working to eliminate this unwholesome practice in the sector and prevent avoidable death of innocent citizens among other major crises.
It noted that though the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is a laudable project, it has not achieved significant coverage.
The chairman said, “We are aware that as laudable as the NHIS is, it has not achieved even 5% coverage. Bearing this in mind, we must do something to prevent the State Health Scheme from failing, especially when we consider the fact that the critical stakeholders, the custodian of the people’s health, were not being involved or engaged directly from the beginning.”
Speaking further, Oseni said the association has involved other health professional groups, health institutional heads, socio-economic pressure groups, organized labour, foreign and other organizations in setting agenda for the health sector.
