Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the NMA further observed the poor state of government-owned health facilities located along the highway which are grossly ill-equipped and inappropriately staffed to provide emergency care to victims of accidents.

 

The AGM/ADC urged the federal and state governments to urgently provide well-equipped functional ambulances along the major highways for the purpose of immediate conveyance of injured victims of motor accidents to nearby hospitals. “Furthermore, the federal and state governments should commence immediate rehabilitation of roads with proper and appropriate road signage on the major highways across the country,” it noted. NMA’s AGM/ADC, tagged “Sakkwato 2016”, was held in Sokoto from April 24 to 28, 2016. The theme of the conference was “doctors in administrative positions in a democratic dispensation.”

 

The Chairman of the conference was the former Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero who was represented by Prof. Abubakar Abdullahi Bagudo. President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac F. Adewole while Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State, was the special guest of honour. The royal father of the day was Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto.

 

The NMA provided free medical outreach programme to Tangaza Local Council where general and specialist medical services were offered to the community. A total of 754 patients were seen out of which 170 surgeries of different sub-specialties were successfully carried out. The doctors observed with shock the sudden demise of six of their colleagues and delegates from the Ekiti State branch of NMA with their driver through a motor accident on April 24, 2016 along the Abuja-Kaduna highway while on their way to attend the AGM/ADC in Sokoto.

 

The AGM/ADC offered prayers for the repose of their souls and declared a one-week mourning period from April 26 to May 3, by all Nigerian doctors. During this period, all doctors in Nigeria would wear a black band on the left arm and all the activities of the conference were toned down as mark of respect for the departed colleagues. The joint conference lauded the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and his government for the honour done to their deceased colleagues and NMA and also Kaduna and Ekiti states branches for their prompt responses and interventions during the fatal accident.