Anambra Medical doctors on health danger list
Anambra State government has tasked medical doctors on the need to undergo thorough medical check-up and treatment for themselves to avoid physical breakup and death.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike and the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku – Awka, Dr. Basil Nwankwo who made the charge during the Physicians Week 2018 at the Teaching Hospital yesterday, noted that physicians give maximum concentration to the health and well- being of patients and others at the negligence of their own health status.
According to Dr. Akabuike and Nwankwo, the importance of doctors taking good care of themselves health wise was apt and adequately amplified with the theme of this year’s Physicians Week, “Universal Health Coverage: Leaving No One Behind”.
While appreciating the NMA for being the only profession that intervened and provided relief materials to the victims of the recent flood menace in parts of the state, the Commissioner on his part assured of determination of the government to go into synergy with them and meet their working and welfare needs.
In his further contribution, the CMD of COOUTH observed that the health reforms of the government under the National Health Insurance Scheme which the state government has domesticated would go a long way in ensuring that doctors take the opportunity to embrace comprehensive self care services as that would not only benefit them but also their patients in particular and society in general
Jude Emejulu-led Awka Zone of NMA condemned the incidence of quackery in the medical profession, pointing out that the re-certification of health centres and practitioners in the context of examinations of personal, academic and practice records as well as Doctors’ Stamp would effectively reduce if not eliminate the scourge.
He praised the State government for providing the enabling enabling in the State which according to him, has resulted in improved services COOUTH has been delivering over the period, adding that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure the institution provide adequate health care delivery to the teeming populace
Dr. Nwankwo expressed willingness of the teaching hospital as a referral centre and research institution to cooperate with other hospital to improve on healthcare when the time arose.
Earlier, the NMA Chairman, Awka zone, Prof. Emejulu noted that the clarion call for doctors to avail themselves of medical attention was in tandem with the mantra of affordable and accessible healthcare, adding that the holistic iimplementation of NHIS would bring healthcare to the doorsteps of the people of the state.
High point of the Physicians’ Week 2018 was the presentation of papers, “Closing the Gap in Polio Eradication: The Role of NMA; “Medical Quackery, Professional Regulation and the Doctors’ Stamp”, and “Physician, Heal Thyself”.
(Picture Caption: Dr Basil Nwankwo, the CMD of COOUTH standing while making his remarks).
By Osiberoha Osibe