The Nigerian Medical Association has provided free medical treatment to no fewer than 1,150 persons in Taraba State. The free medical treatment includes surgeries, dental, ophthalmological services, mass deworming for children, screening for Systemic Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Human Immune Virus, viral hepatitis B& C with screening & treatment for cervical cancer.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the association’s President and Secretary General, Dr. Uche R. Ojinmah and Dr. Jide Onyekwelu, respectively on Monday and made available to our correspondent. The free medical service was carried out during the 63rd Annual General Conference and Delegates’ Meeting of the association held in Jalingo, the state capital, between April 30 and May 7, 2023.
There was also a scientific session for the presentation of research papers. The AGC/DM was preceded by several humanitarian, social and advocacy-oriented activities including the 2nd Dr Stella Adadevoh Free Medical Outreach to Mutum Biyu in Gassol Local Government Area of the state. The association observed that Nigeria is heading for a catastrophic Human Resource health crisis if the current rate of migration of Medical and Dental Practitioners to overseas “Japa syndrome” is not reversed.
It further noted, “as unacceptable the recent proposed obnoxious Bill by the House of Representative member representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, Lagos State; Hon. Ganiyu Johnson which passed second reading at the National Assembly, seeking to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioner Act 2004 to prescribe a five-year mandatory service for Nigerian -trained doctors before granting their full licenses as unfair, irritable and highly provocative to the tenets of the international human rights law, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and civil liberty.”
The NBA sees the Bill as an attempt at modern-day “slavery”. It, however, urged Medical and Dental Practitioners to pay serious attention to the laws and ethics of the medical profession such as professional misconduct, negligence, confidentiality, organ donation, reproductive technologies, abortion, medical research, informed consent, doctor-patient relationship and clinical trials, as a way of strengthening healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
