AFRAID that doctors have now become the most sought-after by kidnappers, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for special police protection for all doctors in the country. 

TRe NMA, which ended its 54th Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting (AGC/AGM) in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, also called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to support the National Health Bill, which is 

again before the lawmakers, saying it would give more Nigerians, particularly the rural dwellers, more access to healthcare. 

Rising from the conference, with theme as "Healthcare Delivery and National Development: A Critical Appraisal in Nigeria's 100 Years Existence," it also commended the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which it said has converted Nigerian hospitals from "mere consulting clinics." 

The newly elected President of the NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, who read the communique to newsmen at the end of the meeting yesterday, lamented that the country's health structure had become so ridiculous that 80 per cent of challenges that should ordinarily fall into primary healthcare is now referred to tertiary health sector. He noted that the bill, if passed, would correct this. 

"The National Health Bill should be passed because it would give certain amount of the budget directly to the primary health sector," he said. 

"It is not to be taken care of at the secondary or tertiary level but directly sent to the communities for PHC and once 

that is achieved, we are sure the primary health centres will be properly funded and all the facilities will be made available all the time. 

"80 per cent of the diseases that take people to the hospital can be taken care of at the primary healthcare centres; another 15 per cent by secondary health centres and only five per cent should actually get to teaching hospitals;" 

Meanwhile, Obembe said that doctors were now the most vulnerable group to kidnappers, noting: "It is time for us now to ask for police escorts wherever we are going because it is proven that we are delivering services to all Nigerians and are not protected. 

"The past president of this association, Dr. Stephen Kishna, was kidnapped. Even before this conference started, another doctor, a lady, was kidnapped here in Benin City. So we are using this opportunity to call on government to provide police protection for doctors in the course of our duties. 

"It is not strange, the judges are protected round the clock, even in their houses, so why can't the government do the same thing for doctors?" According to him, the NMA is committed to Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians, and this would be achieved with the adoption of the community-based NHIS, which would make it possible for a doctor to be accountable to no fewer than 6,000 patients. This scheme, he said, would also encourage doctors to migrate to communities, with its encouraging economic benefits. . 

 

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu,