The Nigerian Medical Association on Tuesday raised the alarm that politicians were toying with the health of Nigerians because of government’s lack of commitment to improving health care delivery system.

The association therefore called on Nigerians to reject people who have no genuine commitment to improvement in the health sector during the 2015 general elections.

The outgoing President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who stated this in his valedictory speech in Abuja, said the last 100 years had not seen much positive changes in the nation’s health sector, adding that rather, “the ruling and political elites only pay lip service to the desire to ensure that Nigeria meets her health care needs.”

Enabulele, who was flanked by the President of National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, Dr. Jibril Abdullahi and a member of NMA, Dr. Henry Ewunonu, said the association would continue to insist on the passage of the National Health Bill and the establishment of the Office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation, no matter the opposition mounted by other health unions.

He said, “We therefore call on Nigerians to vote for only health-conscious Nigerians who appreciate the veritable relationship between health and development and who truly appreciate the need to promote citizens’ health rights as fundamental human rights.

“Never again should Nigerians cast their votes for those who don’t truly appreciate their health needs; that site health facilities for political convenience and gains, negating principles of equity and accessibility, which are vital if our life expectancy statistics would improve.

“After 100 years of existence, Nigeria’s health care delivery system is still faced with challenges attributable to several factors.

“The most pre-eminent disease that has plagued Nigeria’s health care system over the century is the virtual lack of political commitment by the political leaders at different levels of government.

“Whereas everyone says that health is wealth, most of Nigeria’s political leaders and policy makers play incredible politics with the health of their people, by paying lip service to a most serious issue,” Enabulele said.

He lamented that, so far, Nigeria’s universal health coverage is still less than seven per cent, while the appropriation for health as a percentage of the federal and state budgets is still far below the minimum benchmark of 15percent, despite the 2001 Abuja declaration of African Heads of Government.