From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Enugu State chapter, has urged the Enugu State Government to domesticate the Medical Residency Training Funding Act, MRTF.
Enugu State Chairman of NMA, Dr Ugwoke Celestine made the appeal during a press briefing after the Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Association.
He urged the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration to domesticate the MRTF and other remuneration packages being enjoyed by their counterparts working under federal institutions.
Ugwoke said, “the MRTF will help subsidise the very expensive specialist training program of state doctors who are in Residency program in the State, especially at ESUTH Parklane.”
He added that many other state governments in Nigeria had already domesticated the Act and started its implementation.
“The Medical Residency program targets a development and injection of more graduating expertise into the state healthcare force,” he noted.
The Chairman expressed optimism that “the new Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will listen to the pumping pulse of State doctors with respect to this demand in this vital area that will strengthen the State healthcare status.
“I believe that since the current State Governor is a sound technocrat who deeply appreciates expertise, Enugu’s health sector will experience a boost.”
Meanwhile, Ugwoke reminded the general public that most of the sponsored adverts by drug producers and vendors on radio and televisions did not empower them to take medications without a doctor’s prescription.
He regretted that the high cost of drugs and other commodities was encouraging self medications and consumption of herbal concussion, which according to him, “encourages organ damage.”
“Cases of kidney and liver damages are on the rise as a result of the ugly development”, he said, calling on the government to support NMA to stamp out quackery in the State.
