Abia State House of Assembly has assured the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, of its readiness to give swift legislation to health policies that will improve primary healthcare for efficient service delivery to Abians.
The Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, who stated this while declaring open, NMA Abia State Annual General Meeting and Scientific conference 2019′ with the theme: “State Health Legislation; Role in effective healthcare delivery”,said it is their constitutional responsibilities to do so owing to the importance of quality healthcare to the people.
The Speaker who was represented by member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, informed that the House of Assembly recently embarked on oversight functions through the ad-hoc Committees it set up to investigate activities of some health institutions was not borne out of witch-hunt but to correct existing anomalies in sector for better service delivery adding that the challenges of health workers salaries would be solved as soon they are done with their investigations.
While commending the medical professionals for their humanitarian services, the lawmaker charged them on information dissemination to the grassrooters and the need to visit primary healthcare centres in their localities and enjoined them to devise strategies to fish out and eliminate quacks in their system.
Also, the Chairman on the occasion, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi, lauded the State Executives of the NMA, for the occasion stating that it was a well thought out theme.
Earlier, the NMA Chairperson, Abia State Chapter, Dr. Mrs. Carol Iwuoha, disclosed that they conscientiously chose this year’s theme to reflect the significance of the role of the legislature in improving healthcare indices in the State and nation at large adding that the responsibility of healthcare is enormous and requires collective efforts from all spheres of government.
While expressing that their resolve to partner the legislature in improving the health of the people was based on their Constituencies reach, Dr. Iwuoha, called on each lawmaker of the 7th Assembly to prioritize healthcare by adopting at least a primary healthcare center in their constituencies and make them model centres.
The medic further commended the State government under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for its commitment in rolling out basic healthcare provision scheme and the Abia Assembly for passing into law the Abia State Health Insurance bill noting that the effective running and utilization of them depend on their functionality.
In a vote of thanks, Prof. Christian Aluka thanked the Speaker for gracing their occasion and extensively touching the critical issues that concerns the State health sector while praying for God give them the wisdom to do the needful.
The meeting featured series of lectures from notable guest speakers.
