By Blessing Odega
From Plateau state, North Central Nigeria, comes a report that Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Plateau State branch, would conduct free medical checks for 1,000 civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the Association, Dr Cashmir Kumtap, stated this, on Monday, in Jos, the Plateau state capital while briefing Newsmen.
He said, the free medical checks would take place on Wednesday at Jos Gomwalk Secretariat.
According to him, the gesture was one of the Association’s activities to commemorate NMA 2024 annual physicians week with the theme “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System.”
The chairman added that the Association would also give out 11 crutches and six walkers to some physically challenged state civil servants.
“The civil servants will be sensitised on the best health practices and would also be screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, hepatitis, malaria, and some forms of cancer.
“The theme for the 2024 annual physicians week was very apt as it would help address the issue of the mass exodus of health care workers, especially doctors.
“The issue of salary disparities is also a concern for doctors working for the state government, as their salaries were lower than the salaries of their contemporaries who work for the Federal Government.
”As a critical stakeholder in the health system, the association would be giving periodic policy advisories to the state government.
“One of such advisory is the bonding of medical students through the payment of stipends, whereby at post graduation they would work for the state government for two or three years as a strategy for talent retention,” he said.
He further said the Association was working towards getting a 50 per cent tax rebate for its members from their pay as you earn tax, which would be a huge incentive to workers and also a means of retention.
Kumtap further stated that with the recent outbreak of cholera in Plateau, it was imperative for people to inculcate the act of hand washing, ensure they washed their fruits properly, and drink water from safe sources.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the subtheme for the 2024 physician’s week is “Mitigating the Impact of Infectious Diseases: Addressing the Monkeypox Outbreak and Beyond.” – NAN
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