The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kogi branch, has plead to the Kogi state government to ensure speedy implementation of the new Hazard Allowance for its doctors.
The association revealed this in a Communique at the end of its second quarter of State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held on June 2, at its State Secretariat in Lokoja.
Meanwhile, the communique was jointly signed by the Kogi NMA Chairman and Secretary; Dr Baoku Olusola and Dr Emmanuel B.J Kelvin respectively on Thursday, June 6 in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
The communique equally advised the state government to domesticate and enact the medical Residency training Act in Kogi state.
According to the communique, after long deliberations and the observations made, the SEC resolved to do as follows:
“Appeal to Gov. Yahaya Bello to instruct the relevant departments and agencies in the state to speed up the bureaucracy in the path to achieving the implementation of the new hazard allowance for doctors in the employ of the state.
“Urge the Kogi government to domesticate and implement the medical residency training act in the state.”
Similarly, the association congratulated Bello on the award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration.
The NMA also applauded Governor Bello for his giant strides in the infrastructural investments in the state’s health sector.
The body, noted there was need to close the human resources gaps in different health institutions at all levels.
Additionally, It noticed the wide margin between the salaries and allowances of doctors under the state health institutions and those in the Federal health institution which has contributed to the effluence of doctors from the state health sector.
NMA observed that the major offender to the threat of residency training in Kogi state Specialist hospital (KSSH) is delayed domestication/ implementation of the Medical Residency training Act as it was being done/implemented in FCT and other states.
Henceforth, the association, urged Kogi state government to set up a high-powered panel to review and resolve these serious issues amongst others, affecting the medical profession and practice in the state.
