Dr. OUJ Umeora, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ebonyi State University and Consultant Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on Monday called on Nigerian Government to shun politics and make adequate budgetary allocation for the health sector to help the country recover from the effects of Coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Umeora spoke in Abakaliki during the 2020 Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ebonyi State branch physician week, with the theme ; Strategies for Health System Recovery during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.
Coronavirus; Surgeon call for budgeting, data collection
Dr. OUJ Umeora, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ebonyi State University and Consultant Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on Monday called on Nigerian Government to shun politics and make adequate budgetary allocation for the health sector to help the country recover from the effects of Coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Umeora spoke in Abakaliki during the 2020 Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ebonyi State branch physician week, with the theme ; Strategies for Health System Recovery during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.
He said that data collection would help the health system of the country even as he pointed that the virus exposed a lot of deficiencies in the country’s health sector.
He lamented that up to date, Nigeria doesn’t have accurate data of those affected by the virus while new infections have continued to be recorded across the country.
“The Coronavirus pandemic is an eye opener when it came into this country it made us realize that we have no health system , we are not ready for that pandemic it exposed a lot of deficiencies for the fact that we had no stock for PPES, the health Budget is so low, hospitals were not equipped there were no materials, health personnel’s were not motivated.
“Up till now we don’t have accurate data of who has the virus and who doesn’t have and this thing have continued for a lot of months and people are getting tired of the pandemic and the hospital system is crashing you notice people don’t come to hospital even when they come to hospital you don’t see the doctor the doctors are either treating covid patient or they say don’t come, maintain social distancing.
“Everything is turned upside down so in other to recover the health system, the first thing is to believe, to know the fact. The fact is one , that the Covid is still here with us . like you look around the world, we are lucky that in Africa we have some immunity but that immunity can change anytime and when it come again it maybe very ferocious and aggressive so we must get hospital standing again and how do we do that, budgeting, there must be good budgetary allocation.
“We must collect data. It is data that will tell us where we are coming from and where we are going to, we must budget in research, in health personal and infrastructure and avoid Politics.
“We should avoid politics and be very pragmatic to improve the health care system.
Dr Umeora was optimistic that with development of vaccine for the virus it will be contained.
“Corona virus vaccines are coming, it is a pity that people are been encouraged not to take the vaccine, all those things are rubbish because it is not one company that is producing this vaccine so it will be difficult for them to come together and say we want to monitor this person, it is not just possible.
“The important thing is to know if we can get correct vaccine and covid will start going.
On her part, Dr Ajuluchukwu, Esther Uzoamaka, a Surgeon, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, While Speaking on the Sub theme; “Morality and Ethics in the Medical Profession, urged health workers to avoid dehumanizing patients under their care but show love.
She advocated for health insurance for everyone in the state so that doctors will enjoy treating patients with good drugs.
Dr Uzoamaka said if the administrators provide the resources the health care providers will deliver without delay.
Chairman NMA, Dr Benjamin Umezurike and Chairman of the organizing Committee for the physician week Dr. Uzoma Agwu, in their separate remarks, commended the physicians for their dedication toward saving lives.
Umezurike called for team work among the health workers.
Our correspondent reports that the 2020 NMA physician week will also hold free cancer screening for Ebonyi people on Thursday December 3 as part of the activities marking the event.
He said that data collection would help the health system of the country even as he pointed that the virus exposed a lot of deficiencies in the country’s health sector.
He lamented that up to date, Nigeria doesn’t have accurate data of those affected by the virus while new infections have continued to be recorded across the country.
“The Coronavirus pandemic is an eye opener when it came into this country it made us realize that we have no health system , we are not ready for that pandemic it exposed a lot of deficiencies for the fact that we had no stock for PPES, the health Budget is so low, hospitals were not equipped there were no materials, health personnel’s were not motivated.
“Up till now we don’t have accurate data of who has the virus and who doesn’t have and this thing have continued for a lot of months and people are getting tired of the pandemic and the hospital system is crashing you notice people don’t come to hospital even when they come to hospital you don’t see the doctor the doctors are either treating covid patient or they say don’t come, maintain social distancing.
“Everything is turned upside down so in other to recover the health system, the first thing is to believe, to know the fact. The fact is one , that the Covid is still here with us . like you look around the world, we are lucky that in Africa we have some immunity but that immunity can change anytime and when it come again it maybe very ferocious and aggressive so we must get hospital standing again and how do we do that, budgeting, there must be good budgetary allocation.
“We must collect data. It is data that will tell us where we are coming from and where we are going to, we must budget in research, in health personal and infrastructure and avoid Politics.
“We should avoid politics and be very pragmatic to improve the health care system.
Dr Umeora was optimistic that with development of vaccine for the virus it will be contained.
“Corona virus vaccines are coming, it is a pity that people are been encouraged not to take the vaccine, all those things are rubbish because it is not one company that is producing this vaccine so it will be difficult for them to come together and say we want to monitor this person, it is not just possible.
“The important thing is to know if we can get correct vaccine and covid will start going.
On her part, Dr Ajuluchukwu, Esther Uzoamaka, a Surgeon, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, While Speaking on the Sub theme; “Morality and Ethics in the Medical Profession, urged health workers to avoid dehumanizing patients under their care but show love.
She advocated for health insurance for everyone in the state so that doctors will enjoy treating patients with good drugs.
Dr Uzoamaka said if the administrators provide the resources the health care providers will deliver without delay.
Chairman NMA, Dr Benjamin Umezurike and Chairman of the organizing Committee for the physician week Dr. Uzoma Agwu, in their separate remarks, commended the physicians for their dedication toward saving lives.
Umezurike called for team work among the health workers.
Our correspondent reports that the 2020 NMA physician week will also hold free cancer screening for Ebonyi people on Thursday December 3 as part of the activities marking the event.