The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nasarawa State branch, has called on both the federal and state governments to prioritize the safety and welfare of medical practitioners and other health professionals across the country.
The State Chairman of the Association, Dr. Isa Ohyoma, made the appeal during a press briefing to mark the 2025 Physicians’ Week held in Keffi.
Dr. Ohyoma expressed concern over the increasing insecurity affecting health workers, lamenting that many of them now operate under fear due to rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry, and violent attacks in different parts of the country.
He urged the Federal Government to provide adequate funding and logistics support to security agencies to enhance their operational efficiency.
On healthcare financing, the NMA Chairman faulted the allocation of only nine percent of the national budget to the health sector, describing it as grossly inadequate and detrimental to effective service delivery.
Dr. Ohyoma disclosed that the doctor-to-patient ratio in Nasarawa State currently stands at 1:6000, far below the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, and called for urgent intervention to bridge the gap.
He further urged the Nasarawa State Government to ensure that each of the 147 wards in the state has at least one functional primary healthcare centre, noting that such a step would go a long way in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
On welfare matters, the NMA chairman appealed for the immediate payment of the five-month arrears arising from the 25 and 35 percent salary upward review, and called on the government to honour existing agreements to maintain industrial harmony in the health sector.
Dr. Ohyoma also advocated for the state government’s speedy takeover of the Akwanga Specialist Hospital to ease the workload on doctors and other medical personnel in the state.
The 2025 Physicians’ Week has as its theme: “Health Care as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient.”
