By Asma’u Ahmad
The Bayelsa Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday said it would provide accessible and affordable healthcare delivery to people of the state.
NMA Chairman, Dr Keme Pondei made the pledge in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa. Dr Pondei said in spite of the prevailing economic situation in the country, the association have carried out a medical outreach at Sagbama Town, in Sagbama Local Government Area.
“We also, this week provided free healthcare services to rural dwellers in form of medical outreach to other parts of the state,” he said.
The NMA chairman said that the association was not partisan and devoted to the welfare of every Nigerian. He said: “We are partners in progress with the Bayelsa Government and we have hands of friendship with them. We pray that as partners in progress, government and NMA will partner to review the healthcare system in the state.
“There is need to urgently pass the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) Bill before the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.”
He commended the state government for reviving the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, saying that steps should be taken to join the National Health Insurance Scheme to achieve universal health insurance cover.
Dr Pondei said that the association had met all its obligations in terms of meetings at the state, zonal and national levels, in spite of the drastic drop in its income.
The NMA chairman said that members of the association were not just hardworking medical practitioners, but excellent sportsmen.
He said that the association came first at the Zonal NMA Games in Calabar in November 2016, and contributed almost half of the South-South contingents.
