NMA Urges Buhari To Declare State Of Emergency On Health Sector.

Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.

Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi state chapter, has appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to declare a State of emergency on health sector to stem economic waste on health vacations abroad by prominent Nigerians.

Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Kogi state branch, Dr Omakoji Oyigwu, made the appeal while commending the leadership and members of the National Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD) over their genuine struggle to redeem and rescue the already battered heath sector of the country.

Reacting to the recently suspended nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Oyigwu, hailed them for the strike which he said has exposed the inadequacies of the government in the health sector.

He explained that many government top notchers died of Corona virus infection due to weak health infrastructure in the country, pointing out that the suspended strike has exposed the failure of governments in the implementation of international standard health best practices .

Dr Oyigwu who expressed disgust over massive brain drain to foreign health institutions due to weak facilities, infrastructure and poor renumeration ,urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make history by creating a state of emergency via an “executive order”on the health sector to enforce establishment of necessary health infrastructure equivalent to those taking care of our leaders who are always on health vacations abroad.

He equally appealed to governments at all levels to prioritize the welfare and prompt payments of emoluments of health workers to motivate them put in their best.

The NMA Chairman who commended the government for abolition of the” Bench fee” for Doctors on further studies, however called on the government to increase the hazard allowance of N5000 to a more appreciable amount in view of dangers surrounding the health care work.

Senator Philip Aduda, Jiba, Sokodabo Takes Covid-19 Vaccines

Senator Philip Aduda (m) and the two house of representatives members, Hon Micah Jiba and Hon Hassan Sokodabo, during taking of dose of Covid-19 vaccines in Abuja on Monday

By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja.

Senator Philip Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and two house of representatives members for AMAC/Bwari and Abuja South federal constituencies, Hon Micah Jiba and Hon Hassan Usman Sokodabo both took their own dose of the Covid-19 vaccines in Abuja.

FCT UBEB Director Rejoices with NUT State Treasurer Over Wedding Solemnization

Senator Aduda, while speaking shortly after taking his dose of the Covid-19 vacine, called on residents of the territory to ensure they also receive the Covid-19 vaccines.

He said it was important for every of the FCT residents to take the Covid-19 vaccines in order to avoid being infected by the deadly virus.

He, however, said that all hands must be on deck to completely nipping in the bud the surge of Covid-19 virus in the FCT and the entire country.

The acting executive secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Iwot Ndaeyo Akpan, alongside the Chairman FCT Minister’s press Corps, Ikharo Attah, took time to adequately sensitize the general public on the efficacy of the vaccine.

Also, a house of representatives member for Abuja South federal constituency, Hon Hassan Usman Sokodobo and the FCT permanent secretary, in their separate remarks at the occasion, also encouraged residents to ensure they are vaccinated.

Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT take his dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at his official residence in Abuja on Monday

Global Times Nigeria, report that Senator Aduda, also ordered all his households, including his security agents as well as all his staff, aides to get the vaccine.

Covid-19 Vaccines: Kogi Flag Off Vaccines, Raises ” Research Team” On Vaccines.

Kogi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu

By Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.

Kogi state government has finally flagged off Covid 19 vaccination on Tuesday after receiving 16,900 doses of Astrazenica oxford vaccines from National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHDA)

No Controversy Over Discovery Of Kogi COVID-19 Index Case. —- NCDC

Commissioner of Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu who flagged off the exercise on behalf of the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, announced that Kogi state government has raised a ” research team” on Covid-19 and the vaccines, to explore the deficiency of the virus in the state, monitor the vaccination closely to identify effects and side effects that may be noticed after administering the vaccines on individuals.

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

He explained that Kogi state with a population of about 4.6 million people, the research team will go into the various communities using the Covid-19 molecular laboratories that could help to answer some salient questions regarding the scourge.

The team is headed by Dr Francis Akpa of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja

COVID-19: Vaccination Begins In Kogi, Prioritises Health Workers

The Commissioner who used the opportunity of the flag off explain the stand of Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Covid-19, which he said was in the best interest of the state, said as a leader, the Governor would not allow any calamity to befall his people.

He stated that no investigation on the spread of the virus was carried out before asking people to take measures on what is not known to them, pointing out though the pandemic is real in some places across the globe, some areas were not affected as was circulated, appealing to the people not to misunderstand or misconstrue the sincerity of his utterances.

Dr Audu who also admitted that the virus is real in some places, said despite the menace of Covid-19 across the globe, Kogi has not recorded death toll beyond the average statistical data of over two years ago, assured assuring that the vaccines are preventive.

He therefore advised the people of the state to come forward and receive the vaccines, though nobody will compelled or denied.

Earlier the Director General of the National Primary Health care Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, represented by Dr Utibe Abasi Urua, a Director of the agency said over 3.1 million Nigerians have so far been vaccinated since the arrival and distribution of the vaccines in the country.

He cautioned that the preventive measure of Covid-19 does not start and end with the vaccines and therefore urged the people to continue and maintain the protocol of hand washing, social distancing, wearing face mask, avoid crowded areas as well as keeping sanitary rules and clean environment.

The Director General therefore advised the state Ministry of Health to always brief the press to reach to the grassroots .

As top Government notchers were absent at the ceremony, the first dose was administered on Dr Abubakar Yakubu, the state Director Primary Health care Development Agency.

Kogi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu

The occasion was witnessed by religious leaders, Civil Society Organizations, People living with disabilities and relevant stakeholders.