Professor Chukwuma Soludo has called on the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter to assist the government in the fight against quackery in the health sector.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that Soludo represented by the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike made the call during the 2024 Scientific Conference of the Association which held at the NMA House, Federal Medical Centre Onitsha.
Dr. Obidike said the state government have closed down over 30 health facilities headed by non doctors, pointing out innocent citizens lose their lives in the hands of fake doctors.
The Health Commissioner appealed to the NMA to assist the government in getting rid of quackery in the health sector in the state state by conducting monitoring exercises at health facilities from time to time to fish out fake doctors, assuring that his office is open to working with the association.
In her address, the Chairman of NMA Anambra State, Dr. Jane Ezeonu, who spoke extensively on the theme of the conference ” Excellent, Resilient and Equitable Health Care System Amidst Economic Downturn” encouraged doctors to uphold the highest standards of medical practice and healthcare delivery.
On the issue of quackery, Dr. Ezeonu said NMA Anambra has launched a task force and also commenced capturing of doctors on the NMA website which will be accessible by citizens to ensure that those who are left with their healthcare are truly medical doctors.
Ezeonu expressed the willingness of NMA Anambra to work with the state government in eradicating quackery in the health sector.
Delivering the Emeritus Professor Festus Nwako Memorial Lecture, the guest Lecturer, Professor Roland Osuoji, said high-quality healthcare is crucial for improving life expectancy and reducing the burden of disease in the country and listed “japa phenomenon” in the health sector as one of the most potent challenges facing the realization of high-quality healthcare delivery in the country.
Speaking in an interview, the Secretary of the association, Dr. Frank Ifeanaeme said there is tremendous improvement in the health sector, stating that accessibility to health facilities is becoming easier even in remote areas.
The event also featured the fifth Emeritus Professor Festus Nwako Memorial Lecture; grand reception of the immediate past secretary general of NMA, Dr. Jide Onyekwelu and the Annual General Meeting of the association.
