Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has assured newly elected Executive members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), that the State would continue to collaborate them in key decisions of health sector.Dr Okpala said this, when the newly elected executive members of the NMA paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka.
He noted that Gov. Willie Obiano’s vision and mission was to establish quality, affordable and accessible healthcare service delivery for Ndi Anambra.There is no way we can achieve this feat without engaging key stakeholders like the NMA when it comes to the issues of health in the state.”The commissioner explained that research had shown that 75 per cent of the public access healthcare from private health facilities than the public health facilities.
He assured the group that he would look into the issue they brought before him as well as discuss them with Gov. Obiano.Dr Okpala commended the past executive under the leadership of Dr Emmanuel Muonagor; he also congratulated the incoming executive, urging them to be committed to the discharge of their duties.
The new Chairman, State Chapter of NMA, Dr Jide Onyekwelu said that the courtesy visit was to introduce themselves to the commissioner after a successful election held on June 27.Dr Onyekwelu added that the visit would enable them to discuss their problems, so that the both parties would help to entrench proper healthcare delivery to the public.
The commissioner represents the ministry of health and he has the oversight function over the activities of all doctors in the state as far as health is concerned.We the doctors need to work together for us to deliver effective and efficient healthcare to our people.The commissioner has a lot of passion in delivering his job and he wants to do it in such a way that, there will be human face in it.All of us must collaborate with him to ensure that the right thing must be done,” he said.
He also noted that NMA had pledged together with the Ministry of Health to improve healthcare service and register all healthcare facilities in the state.Secretary NMA, Dr Dubem Awachie thanked the commissioner for granting them the opportunity to interact with him in his office.We came on board knowing that there is a good relationship between NMA and your kind office and so far we are benefitting from same cordial relationship,’’ Awachie said.
Dr Awachie assured the commissioner that they would maintain the already established relationship while noting that there were numerous issues to be addressed on both sides in order to do things better.
Participants during the meeting include former Chairman, Dr Eric Anazodo, Dr Emma Muonagor, Dr Ugochukwu Duru, Treasurer, Dr O. H Ekwunife, Dr Onyinye Nwazor, Dr Sylva Ezieruo, Chairman AGPMPN, Dr Ndubuisi Arua, PRO.
Others are Dr Uchechukwu Onyejimbe, Director Public Health and Head Disease Control, Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, HOD, Medical Services and Mr Victor Nwaizu a Pharmacist and Deputy Director Pharmaceutical Services.
