NMA Moves To Check Quacks

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State Branch, has inaugurated what it described as Doctor’s Intelligent Digital Identity Card Management Service as a means of  checking the activities of medical quacks in the state.
Unveiling over 1000 intelligent digital identity cards, the NMA revealed that it would be distributed to its members in the State free of charge. 
The association also launched its Enterprise, Global Doctor’s e-Registry and intelligent transactional Doctor’s platform.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Enugu, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, said that the intelligent systems put in place by NMA would eliminate activities of quacks in the medical profession.
Obi said that elimination of quacks would guarantee quality medical services to the people, adding that professionally, the innovative initiatives being launched would go a long way to ensure that only qualified medical personnel serve the people.
According to him, “It is obvious that qualitative healthcare delivery comes from qualified medical professionals. 
“I must thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for improving all health indicators of the state and creating an enabling environment for healthcare professionals especially medical doctors to strive”. 
Medical Director of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Prof Obinna Onodugo, Chief said that the digital system marks a mile stone in the upgrade of medical services in the state and country at large.
Onodugo said that UNTH would key into the platform to ensure a sanitised medical profession.
“The present NMA executive in Enugu State has done well in restoring peace, coming out with impactful technological innovation and promoting overall welfare of its members”.
Also speaking, Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr Monday Igwe, applauded the NMA for using technology and evidence-based approaches to sort out challenges of the association.
“We laud the present NMA Executive of the state for such an innovative meant to cleanse the system”,Igwe, who was represented by Head of Clinical Services, Dr Vincent Ubochi, said.
In a goodwill message, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, said that the police was ever ready to assist the NMA flush out quacks in the system.
Represented by officer in charge of Medicals, CSP Isi Ijiomah, CP Aliyu however, noted that the police and other sister security agencies needed more sensitisation on how the digital identity card works and how to easily identify  quacks. 
Earlier, Chairman of NMA Enugu State Branch, Dr Jude Onyia, said that the digital intelligent identity card and other digital electronic platforms would eliminate quacks in the medical profession in the state.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu