BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI—Ebonyi State chapter of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, yesterday called on the Federal Government to establish a Lassa fever screening centre in the state for the South East geopolitical zone.

State chairman of NMA, Dr. Chidi Esike, who made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Physician Week held at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, lamented that the disease had over the years claimed the lives of some medical doctors who made concerted effort to save the lives of patients affected by  it in the state.

It should be recalled that the outbreak of Lassa fever was first reported in Ebonyi State in 2008 during which lives of some persons,  including two medical doctors and other health workers, were lost.

Also in 2011, four persons said to be residing at the Military cantonment, Nkwegu ,near Abakaliki, also died of the disease.
Dr. Esike stressed that if the initiative was implemented, it would not only assist in the treatment of the disease but also aid the development of research centres for the eradication of the scourge.

He said:  “It is distressing to NMA that her members and indeed members of the health team who are so affected had to travel to other geopolitical zones to be diagnosed and treated for Lassa fever since there is no such treatment or virology centre in the south East geopolitical zone.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to establish as a matter of urgency, a virology centre in Ebonyi State for the South East geopolitical zone. We have the man power and our members are willing to work to make the a centre a success.

“We also call on FETHA to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a dialysis Centre and other specialised services for our people since our members can and wiling to provide the required man power.”

In a lecture, titled “Federalism and Nigeria’s Healthcare system: An appraisal of Primary and Secondary Healthcare system” delivered by a Community Physician and Health Economist, Prof Benjamin Uzochukwu, he stated that the practice of federalism in the country resulted in the inability of the component governments to improve the health of the population they served, respond to people’s expectations and provide financial protection against the cost of ill health, the primary objectives of the health system.

He said: “The key problems of the health system have been attributed to gaps in the area of stewardship, governance and accountability at all levels; funding, and the concept of federalism.

“Therefore, to resolve the issues and ensure good health to the people, there is urgent need for political commitment and good governance; strengthen primary health care with a good effective referral system to the secondary and tertiary hospitals; ensure financial protection through mandatory health insurance system that covers all Nigerians, ensure community participation & ownership and increase budgetary allocation to health while putting in place mechanism for proper accountability”.

Declaring the Physician Week opened, the Chairman of the occasion and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, EBSU, Prof. Egwu U. Egwu, called on medical personnel in the state to intensify effort in the diagnosis of some strange diseases which had over the years led to the death of patients.