NMA Tackles Kaduna Govt On CONMESS

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)  yesterday appealed to the state government to redeem its pledge to fully implement the newly-introduced Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS.)

The Chairman of the association, Dr Solomon Avidime,  made the appeal in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Kaduna.

“We are still expecting Gov. Patrick Yakowa to fulfil his promise of paying our members the balance of 10 per cent as per our last agreement on the matter.

“His administration should urgently redeem the pledge to avert another round of industrial action by our agitated members.”

Avidime also called for improved funding of the health sector in the 2012 budget to address its inherent problems and ensure efficient and qualitative service delivery.

“Our hospitals lack adequate infrastructure, equipment and staffing.”

He said the problems facing the health sector were contributing to the brain-drain being witnessed in the country.

Avidime urged the National Assembly to pass the National Health Bill currently before it, and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to it as soon as it was passed.

The bill, he stressed, sought to revolutionise the provision of medical and health services in the country.

The chairman explained that the bill would make medical and health care delivery services affordable and available to all Nigerians if “implemented faithfully”.

He said the law would address issues on primary, secondary and tertiary institutions as well as provide for a comprehensive health insurance policy for all Nigerians.