By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, December 10, 2021
The Kogi Branch of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), on Friday commended Kogi Government on the current improved health care services delivery in the state.
The association gave the commendation during its Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2021 held in Lokoja, with the theme: ”Kogi State Health System Strengthen: Where Are We?”,
Dr Agbana Emmanuel, who presented a paper on the theme, said that Kogi was currently doing well in its health care delivery services.
The medical doctor praised the State Government’s approval of full COMMESS for all medical doctors under it services, describing the development as a positive boost to stabilise the health sector in the state.
According to him, Kogi presently has four tertiary health facilities of which three are owned by the state and one by the federal government, and has embarked on expansion of existing health institutions and upgrading of Specialist Hospitals”
Emmanuel stressed that the theme of 2021 Annual General Meeting, was aimed at evaluating Kogi Health System, input, process and output so far.
He disclosed that the state at the moment had 4,216 health workers of which 69 are in the category of medical officers, nine consultants and 2,012 registered nurses.
“Right now Kogi has 838 functional primary health facilities, 54 secondary health facilities and 1,144 private registered health facilities” he said.
Earlier, the State Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr Okaungbowa Osaretin Kelvin, in his welcome address, said the AGM of the association remained an annual ritual where professionals in the Government medical outfits gather to brain storm on the success, challenges and way forward in the practice.
He said that the new leadership of the association in Kogi had made significant and verifiable strides within one year in office.
He acknowledged the support and encouragement by members and the past Chairmen of the association as well as the parent body Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to the new leadership.
The NAGGMDP Chairman appealed to government to employ more doctors as the few available once were already over worked, and also called for organising leadership training for the medical officers.
Also speaking, Dr Aledare Adekunle, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Health Insurance Agency (KGSHIA), also in a paper presentation titled: ”Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme: The Journey So Far,” urged states, local governments, corporate organisations and individuals to key into the scheme in view of its importance in the health needs of the people.
Adekunle while speaking on the gains of insurance scheme, advocated for mandatory insurance scheme for all Nigerians.
”Health Insurance Scheme helps to reduce user fees, helps to share risk between insured and the insurer, helps to provide financial risk protection to citizens and helps to strengthen the health system as a major driver of Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
The executive secretary noted that Health Insurance Scheme was created in Nigeria in 1999 and in Kogi State in 2019, saying it is a feat targeted at providing Social Health Insurance for all Nigerians.
He disclosed that so far his Agency had been able to embark on deployment of staff to administer the scheme in Kogi state, capacity building for staff on Universal Health Coverage, development of operational guide lines, accreditation of 50 Secondary Health Care facilities and 236 Primary Health Care facilities for service provision.
On his parts, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of tKogi Hospital Management Board, Dr.Zakari Usman, assured that the state government would continue to accord health sector topmost priority.
The CMD thanked NAGGMDP for its efforts to support government in its task to addressing the health needs of the people.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Simeon Omakoji Oyiguh, appealed to governments at all levels and Nigerians to be weary of the rising insecurity across the country.
He called for joint efforts in the fight against insecurity that has rendered innocent citizens killed.
Oyiguh commended the state government for its determined efforts to secure the lives of the residents and boost their health needs.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Awards to deserving doctors for making their marks in their professional callings.
End