Taraba : Has only 201 Doctors to Cater for 3million population – State NMA chairman

Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo

The State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Bako Ali Istifanus has disclose that the state has only Two Hundred and One (201) Doctors (Active and retired) saddle with the responsibility of taking care of 3,609,800 population (2022).

He stated this while briefing Journalists in Jalingo to mark the 2023 Physicians Week.

“With Doctor to patient ratio pegged at 1:17,959 instead of 1:600. The need for the reversal of this poor indices is pertinent.

“The government and health care providers must tackle this demon head on with particular attention to encouraging specialization, improve welfare package and providing standard infrastructures that will make work easy and reduce burn out.

He frown at the activities of some un trained health persons.

“The rate of proliferation of clinics without recourse to set standards are in most cases causing more harm than good.

“Even with the depreciated number of Doctors, NMA Taraba State Chapter frown at quackery.

“NMA Taraba State Chapter has zero tolerance for that, and we will not bring down standards even though the physicians are few.

“All practices concerning human health are regulated, no one should shy away from that.

“The current monitoring by MDCN Monitoring unit and Antiquackery unit of NMA is a step towards curbing this menance.

He urge Doctors to use the opportunity to improve themselves with professional knowledge.

Dr. Istifanus use the medium to appeal to the state government to intensify effort in ensuring that state Doctors and Health care professionals enjoy the recently approved CONMESS and CONHESS (July, 2023).

“The new hazard allowance and the accoutrement allowance due to Doctors, better remuneration and welfare package will definitely reverse the brain drain to brain gain – he said.

He commend the proactive steps taken by Governor Kefas Agbu’s administration towards ensuring that Taraba State move forward, which includes, Handing over of General Hospital Wukari to Federal University of Wukari Teaching Hospital, Free Education for Primary and Secondary Schools, Taking stand in fighting medical quackery, Halving the tuition fee in the state University and Launching of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination for prevention of cervical cancer in women. Others are operating open door policy where meetings were held with stakeholders in health services to strategies on improving health care delivery.

On security, the state chairman commended the effort of the government towards securing life and properties in the state.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure that lives are secure. Stay security conscious, imbibe important security tips and steps to stay out of troubles.

According to him, Taraba State Doctors need manpower such as, motivation, better remuneration and increase energy towards training, improve health care financing and more tantalizing packages, the brain drain and burn out syndrome will be reversed.

“Above all, the unity of Doctors to carry out this mandate of effective, efficient and qualitative health care delivery should never be taken for granted.

“It is a collective responsibility for physicians in Taraba State to come together in unity to advance the science of medicine and lessen human misery.

“Take time to unwind after work, exercise regularly and stay safe. Physicians Heal Thyself – he added.

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