Nigeria Medical Association

The Health System in Nigeria has passed through a lot of challenging times.

 This assertion was made on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the Physicians' Week of the Oyo state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) with theme, ''Nigeria's Health Care Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition : A Time to Change the Narrative by the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital(UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria, Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo.

''The Nigeria health system has suffered a lot, this is a backward change. This year's budget gave the health sector an encouraging allocation; over a trillion Naira.

The Government of the day and others should manage the budget for the health sector. I just pray that the health system would not collapse. I urge all of you o use your influential positions to help us in the health system,'' Prof. Otegbayo stated.

In his presentation on the theme of the week, the Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU)Ago-Iwoye, Oun state, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola Johnson expressed hopes that the narrative in the country would change.

''In the course of 20 years, we are still talking of changing the narrative. Hopefully the narrative will change. Nigeria's political structure affects every aspect of our daily need. State governments should allocate 10 per cent of their budget to the health sector. We are in a civilian rule not democratic governance today. The government at all levels must be proactive,'' Prof. Johnson concluded.

The Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) in Oyo state has declared that it shall not endorse any candidate for the 2023 general elections in line with its status as a professional association.

This declaration was made on Monday, by the NMA chairman, Dr. Wale Lasisi, during a Press conference to outline activities lined up for the Physicians' week 2022 with theme, ''Nigeria's Health Care Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition : A Time to Change the Narrative'' in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''That is absolutely untrue. We are apolitical, we are not endorsing any candidate, we will not endorse any candidate, we are making plans to invite gubernatorial candidates. NMA is not endorsing any candidate, we are a group of professionals without political bias. We all know that as an association we have members with different political backgrounds.''

Similarly, the National President of the NMA, Dr. Uche Ojinmah has called on Nigerians not to back candidates that lack the competence to deliver the dividends of democracy.

 ''All citizens must respond to the call of Nigeria for good leadership and should never, for pecuniary benefits, sell or support candidates that cannot move our nation forward. May God grant us the courage to be who we ought to be by standing for equality and progress. May our loyalty be only to Nigeria and may our loyalty not be tested by any past or present commitment.'' ''Let us all patiently wait to hear the plans of the presidential candidates for Nigeria, especially in the health sector, before pitching out a political support tent. Despite the national drawbacks, the Nigerian doctor has a lot to celebrate this week just for being alive.''