The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti chapter, has said the alleged neglect of the primary and secondary health system in the state was affecting the government’s plan to ensure universal health coverage for those at the grassroots. This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the NMA Chairman, Dr Tunji Omotayo, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday. Omotayo stated that the poor condition of service at primary and secondary health cadres necessitated the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the doctors in the three Specialists and 19 general hospitals as well as hundreds of primary healthcare facilities in the state. Within this period, the number of doctors in the employment of the HMB dropped from over 120 to just over 70. “Within the same period, the number of medical consultants (specialists) in the three specialist hospitals have decreased from 15 to five.

Source: Nigerian Tribune July 22, 2020 13:07 UTC