Speech by chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),
Kwara State branch at the Dinner/ Award nite in honour
of
his Excellency Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki on the
30th of July 2009
PROTOCOL
The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Dr Abubakar
Bukola Saraki
Members of the State Executive Council
Honourable members of the KWHA.
Royal fathers present
Distinguished members of the NMA, invited guests,
members of the press, all protocols duly and respectably
observed
The Nigerian Medical Association, is a professional
association comprising of various affiliates: Medical
and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria (MDCAN),
Association of Residents Doctors [ARD), Association of
General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN),
National Association Government General Medical and
Dental Practitioners of Nigeria (NAGGMDPN), Association
of Medical and Dental Officers in Basic Medical Sciences
(AMDOBAMS), Nationl Association of Doctors in University
Health Service (NADUHS) and Medical Women Association of
Nigeria (MWAN). The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
was formed some years ago with a vision as a formidable
professional body committed to fostering effective and
efficient healthcare delivery, high ethical standards,
and the interest of its members. The Nigerian Medical
doctor is committed to service of their patients and
humanity as a whole . The NMA is a major stakeholder in
healthcare delivery in the country.
the face of economic and socio-political challenges as
we have continued to contribute our quota to enhance
development in Nigeria through the provision of quality
healthcare, within the confines of the ethics of the
medical profession, and available resources.
The NMA has a tradition of holding her Annual General
Meeting (AGM) which comes up in July of every year with
a scientific conference and annual dlnner
This year's scientific conference and annual dinner is
unique in many ways first, the theme of this years
conference is Healthcare financing in Nigeria with of
sub theme of Community Health financing in Kwara State:
Experience from Shonga and lafiagi.
You will all agree with me that our fortunes in the
heath sector is dwindling with our dear country Nigeria
having poor heath indices such as high maternal and
child mortality, high disease burden of malaria, TB, HIV
/ AIDS and cancer etc.
Government at all levels, in conjunction with all stake
holders, will need to take urgent and pragmatic steps to
address the dwindling fortunes in the health sector,
with a view of reversing these poor health indices such
quality training and retraining of all health workers,
provision of up-to-date and state of the art medical
equipments (for the diagnosis and treatment of endemic,
emerging and re-emerging diseases) re- orientation of
health workers, payment of appropriate wages, motivation
of heath workers and above all adequate financing of
health Care.
The NMA notes with satisfaction and appreciation the
positive impact your Excellency programmes have made in
the lives of Kwarans under your leadership particularly
in the areas of infractructural developments,
agriculture, housing, health care delivery to mention
just a few. These programmes have, gone a long way
towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)
and satisfying the World Health Organization (WHO)
definition of Health which is the state of complete
physical, mental, and social well being and not just the
absence of disease or infirmity. I want to submit that
the community health. financing in Kwara State is
working and it is impacting positively on the lives of
the benefiting commumties in Shonga and Afon.
Your Excellency sir, in the light of the above, the
State Executive Council (SEC) of NMA and the congress
unanimously resolved to honour you with the award of a
distinguished medical ambassador of NMA.I wish you long
life, good health, and many years of service to
humanity.
Long live NMA Kwara, Long live Kwara State,
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Dr. OLOKOBA A.B.
MBBS ,FWACP, D TMH(LONDON),M PH,MBA
