A’Ibom Assembly to Enact Law on Healthcare Development

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly will soon pass into law the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Act to strengthen healthcare delivery system in the state.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, disclosed this in Uyo at the 2016 Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) AkwaI Ibom Branch.

Speaking on the theme ‘Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges’, Luke called on doctors to contribute to the process of strengthening primary healthcare delivery system in the country.

He said the State Assembly was currently understudying the national primary healthcare development agency act with the intention of domesticating it so as to give strength to primary healthcare delivery in the state.

According to him, the legislative process for the actualisation of the act was expected to commence as soon as the lawmakers resume from recess.“For me, the foundation for universal healthcare access is the strengthening of primary healthcare delivery system in the states with well trained personnel,” he said.

The Speaker stressed that an effective and efficient primary healthcare delivery system backed by adequate funding would go a long way in helping the state and country meet the standard for universal health coverage.

Luke equally called for the provision of better working condition for doctors and other medical personnel, as well as the establishment of a special unit in the hospitals to handle the health needs of doctors.

The Speaker argued that if a medical doctor was not mentally sound, less fatigue and stress free, he or she would not be able to take care very well of his patients and deliver on his core mandate.

“The doctors are giving all their best, sacrificing their comfort to care about the comfort of their patients, but who are those that think about the comfort of the medical doctors. If a medical doctor is not mentally sound, less fatigued and stress free, he may not be able to take care very well of his patients and deliver on his core mandate.

“So I am here to advocates for a special unit in our Specialist Hospitals to handle doctor’s health,” Luke said.

Also Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Bassey Attih, lauded the state NMA for a successful hosting of their AGM, stating the commitment of the state government in ensuring improved healthcare for the citizenry.