The guest lecturer, Prof. Martin Chike Aghaji, spoke on the topic "Audacity of Medical Excellence." He lamented that the dearth of necessary medical infrastructure had contributed largely to the alarming decay in the nation's health sector, and the trend was attributable to the lackadaisical attitude of the political class, which, according to him, wilfully allowed the health sector to rot while it was pursuing its selfish end. 

 

Aghaji, who doubles as the Vice-Chancellor, University of Health Sciences, Oturkpo, Benue State, lampooned the political class for spending millions of dollars on medical tourism while poor Nigerians died daily because of dearth of a sound health system to cater for their needs. 

 

"What is happening here is madness. We are seeing a situation where the political class that is supposed to fix the public health system and ensure it is working optimally in accordance with global standards is rather killing it. This class is supposed to cater for the health needs of the citizenry and ensure that all hospitals are fitted with the best medical equipment for the benefit of all but it is not doing that. Rather, people in this class abandon this noble expectation and prefer to go abroad for medical attention. This doesn't happen in Asia or Russia. 

 

"If one is an elected official, then they must fix the hospitals and make them work so that they too would be treated in the same hospitals. It, is not just the hospitals, all the facilities needed for wellbeing and healthy living such as schools and roads need to be fixed too. If they can't do that, then they shouldn't be there. There is no point for them to leave thehospitals in shambles preferring to run abioad for treatment," he said. 

 

The don regretted that the high death rate prevalent in the country these days was as a result effects of medical errors, trauma, lack of auditing, poor record keeping and like ills now the norm in the medical sector. 

Aghaji further regretted that most deaths in the country were associated with night travels, use of second hand tires, growing number of poorly-trained drivers, consumption of hard drugs and use of rickety cars, among others. 

 

He noted that clashes between communities accounted for loss of lives in the same manner building collapse and emotional trauma were major causes of untimely death among Nigerians.  Chairman of the state chapter of the NMA, Dr. Eric Anazodo, while welcoming the guests, pointed out that despite the enormous challenges facing medical practice in the country, his colleagues were doing their best to sustain the industry. 

"It is not true that doctors demand for money before handling emergencies," he said. "What we rather encourage them to do is to seek to save lives first before talking about money. If they are talking about money and somebody loses their life, such life will not come back even after the monetary issues are settled. So we implore our members to attend to life first:' 

 

Governor Willie Obiano, while declaring the event open, pointed out that he was making spirited efforts to revamp the health sector, especially at the grassroots.  The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabike, disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for the provision of health centres in each of the councils.  "We have embarked on the provision of 63 primary-health centres, three in each local government. We have 21 local governments; so that brings the total to 63. The project is going to be finished in the next three to four months; that also includes the introduction of 'keke' ambulance to facilitate rapid transportation of patients to health facilities," he said. 

 

He also reiterated the state government's resolve to implement the law restraining people who have either AS or SS genotypes from getting married.  Chairman and co-chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the event, Dr Akujobi Comfort and Dr Titus Osita Chukwuanukwu respectively, in their separate speeches, disclosed that the gathering provided an avenue for the doctors to update their knowledge on the current trends in patient care, stimulate research and scientific writing and review the progress so far made by the association. 

 

The highpoint of the occasion was the election of new officers of the association. Dr. JKC Emejulu was elected the new chairman while Dr. Tony Okoye emerged as secretary.  Some of the dignitaries at the event were Dr. Evaristus Afiadigwe and the, Dr. Anthony Ugboaja, who represented the Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, (NAUTH) Awka, Prof Anthony Igwegbe. The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku,.was represented by the Provost of the College of Health Science, NAUTH, Nnewi, Prof A.M.E Nwafor/ Also present were Prof. Christian Ibeh, Prof Okey Mbonu and family members of late Prof Festus Aghagbo Nwako as well as Mr. Chika Nwako, a legal practitioner among others. 

 

 

Source:MWN