The Kogi chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed concern over the lack of trained medical professionals in secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities as well as the state's inadequate benefits for medical professionals.
The union also lamented the delay in the payment of the monthly salary of the medical staff at the Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital in Anyigba and the state's Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.
This was stated in the Communiqué that the association released following its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which had the theme "Retire Early, Retire Ready" and took place on Saturday in Lokoja.
Dr. Emmanuel Kelvin, the group's Secretary, and Dr. Baoku Olusola, its Chairman, jointly signed the communiqué.
“We are dismayed by the human resource and manpower gaps in various health institutions at all levels in Kogi state; this is not a good omen for the health sector in the state.
“We are urging the state government to recruit more qualified doctors, to fill up available gaps in various health institutions in the state and ensure regular payments of salaries of doctors and other health workers in a specialist hospital, Lokoja and Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.
“We appeal to the governor of the state to approve and implement various welfare packages for doctors in the state, including but not limited to the new hazard allowance,”NMA appealed.
However, the union praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for his enormous efforts and massive investments in the construction of vital infrastructures in the state's different health institutions.
It also pleaded with the governor to assist three of its members who are seriously ill and receiving treatment somewhere else.
