Abia NMA clears air over controversy on visit to Sen Orji Kalu

Abia NMA clears air over controversy on visit to Sen Orji Kalu

By Steve Oko

The Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State branch,  has cleared the air over the controversy and misleading media report generated by the recent courtesy visit by its leadership to the Senate Chief Whip and senator representing Abia North zone, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

NMA in a press statement jointly signed by its state Chairman, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu; and Secretary, Dr Robinson Uchenna Ugwuanyi, respectively, said its visit to Kalu was purely professional and in keeping with its long standing tradition of consulting with stakeholders.

Below is the full text of the statement made available to Wawa News Global:

” The attention of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, has been drawn to a publication in News mirror of January 5th 2021 captioned *”ABSUTH TURN TO SENATOR KALU FOR  INTERVENTION OVER 18 MONTHS UNPAID SALARIES, OTHERS”*

“NMA Abia State Branch hereby distances herself from this caption and misrepresentation and wishes to clarify as follows:

“1.That NMA is professional body with a clear mission to build a sustainable professional association of medical and dental practitioners that will advance the delivery of qualitative healthcare services delivery through continuing professional development, advocacy, and policy development, knowledge management, public education in collaboration with other collaborating partners

“2. That it is customary for NMA to pay courtesy or special visits to political office holders and stakeholders at national and state levels. Recently, Such a visit has been paid to the DSS, Commissioners of Health, Information and  Police, Sec to State Govt, Wife of the State Governor and the Abia State Governor. On 24th November, the President of  NMA, Prof IAO Ujah mni paid such a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor during which challenges facing effective health care delivery were robustly discussed. Following this visit, the Governor promised to pay 6-9months subventions to enable payment of salaries. Out of these, 2 months have been paid to ABSUTH and 3 months to Hospital Management Board. The Governor also promised to fix the road leading to ABSUTH.

“3. In this same usual tradition, NMA Abia State branch paid a yuletide visit to the Senator Representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at his Igbere home where we appreciated his contribution to Healthcare services especially the vital role being  played by his Non-governmental Organization (OUK Foundation)  in the area of Women & Child Health and Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care in his constituency and Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps.

“4. NMA used the opportunity of this visit to discuss contemporary health related issues and seek partnership in qualitative healthcare service delivery in his constituency. Such partnerships can and do exist between NMA and foundations involved in Internally Displaced Persons, COVID 19, Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, Heart diseases, sickle cell disease, girl child protection etc

“5. That NMA visit to the Senator does not have any political undertone, as clearly explained in all our courtesy visits as health issues cuts across all political divides. Also, NMA cannot be used to achieve any political goal.

“6. NMA, in line with her vision, will continue to work assiduously to ensure that an average Abian is not denied of quality healthcare services through mobilization of her members in key areas of health care needs, including partnership with govt and NGOs.

“7. It is also the responsibility of NMA leadership to ensure that members welfare is not compromised under any guise- that we have sworn to protect.

“8. NMA is a professional association and not ABSUTH spokesman: hence could not have spoken on behalf of  ABSUTH management as wrongly misrepresented in the publication”.