Imo govt, NMA parley over crisis in health sector

By Jennifer John

Imo State Government has engaged the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Imo State chapter in a dialogue over the lingering industrial unrest in the health sector.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the Secretary to Imo State Government (SGI), Sir Cosmas Iwu described what transpired between the government and NMA delegation as a fruitful deliberation.

He said the NMA leadership appreciated the state government for its effort to improve the infrastructure in the health sector and promised to work towards ending the lingering strike action embarked upon by members of the association in the state.
Iwu said government was poised to continue the development of the state health sector, making it clear that health care development is one of the cardinal objectives of the Hope Uzodimma led administration.

“We have done a lot, both in the primary, secondary and tertiary health and NMA is quite appreciative of these giant strides, that’s why they called for this meeting and it is good they reciprocate. We are waiting for them and government is also willing to address all those issues that will help them to perform and do their work very well”.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Imo State branch, Dr. Okwara Kingsley, said the union’s leadership had a fruitful deliberation with the government delegation, towards resolving the challenges confronting their members in the state, which he said were quite a catalogue of them.

“NMA will go back, look at it and I am hopeful there will be a good outcome, having received assurances from government that those issues will be resolved item by item”.

He listed some issues to include the 2014 CONMGSS implementation, salaries of consultants in the state teaching hospital that has not been paid since March 2020, the slash in salaries of doctors in Hospital Management Board and Imo Specialist Hospital, the non remittance of check-off dues of members to the union.
Other issues according to the chairman included; The non accreditation of Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu College of Medicine, the need for residency training in the Teaching Hospital, among others.