… NMA Challenged To Interrogate Guber Candidates On Healthcare Sector
By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
The President, World Medical Association, WMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, has emphasized the need for professional bodies involvement in Nigeria’s bid to get to the right track of development.
He made the statement at the 70th birthday of a medical practitioner, Professor Dominic Osayande Osaghae, and his (Osaghae) books launch held at Doctors’ House, Benin, Yesterday.
The books: Re-inventing the Nigerian Medical Association: From Crisis to Peace’, and ‘Footprints on the Sounds of Time‘ are authored by the celebrant, Prof. Osaghae.
Enabulele, who was the chairman of the occasion with the theme ‘The Role of Professional Association in National Development’, said no nation can get it right in terms of development without allowing professional bodies to play critical roles.
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Lamenting that most often professional associations are not given the right place in national development plan, the WMA President said: “National development is not all about the president; it is not all about the governors, but it involves everyone. Nigeria cannot advance if we do not play out roles as Nigerians. Professional bodies must be fully carried along in our quest to get it right.”
He added: “No matter the strategy put forward, if a development plan is not based on human capital development and other indices of socioeconomic development, then such strategies and plans may not yield the desired results.”
On the celebrant, the Chairman of the occasion said: “He stands for progressive ideas, stands for justice and anything good. He has contributed immensely to the development of the medical profession and the nation in general.”
In his keynote address, a former Commissioner for Health in Edo State, Dr. Wilson Imongan, said the role of professional bodies in national development cannot be overemphasized, adding that “the professionals provide industry insight that directly affects the economic development of the country.”
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According to him, “The professional bodies bridge the gap by applying technical knowledge to solving societal development challenges.
He added: “They help politicians initiate policies and legislation. Professional bodies need visibility so that they can form a robust and cordial relationship with government for collaboration.”
He challenged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State branch, to interrogate those seeking political offices even as the Edo State governorship election draws nearer.
He said: “Edo State has governorship election coming, the NMA must not wait for candidates to lead the discussions. It is most important to start the discussion now. The NMA must set up an Ad-hoc committee to come up with a blue print for the politicians in the healthcare sector for effective healthcare delivery.
“None of the candidates is talking about health because they have no business there. So, the NMA must start the interrogation now”